How Boi-1da Built a Soundtrack for Canada’s World Cup Moment

When Boi-1da first started piecing together What If It All Goes Right?, the Grammy-winning producer wasn’t interested in making just another compilation album tied to a sporting event. Instead, he wanted to create something that genuinely felt like Canada.

Released ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada is co-hosting alongside the United States and Mexico, the album, produced by Canada Soccer Foundation’s Perfect Pitch program, brings together a wide range of artists, sounds and perspectives from across the country. Hip-hop sits beside Punjabi music, Latin influences collide with stadium-ready electronic anthems and tributes to Canadian icons like The Tragically Hip exist alongside collaborations with some of the country’s newest voices.

It's a stacked lineup of collaborators, from AP Dhillon to Jessie Reyez, NorthSideBenji to Nelly Furtado.

Boi-1da, who has become one of the country’s most globally influential producers through his work with Drake, Eminem, Rihanna and countless others, approached the project with the same competitive mindset he brings to music itself. A lifelong soccer fan and dedicated supporter of Toronto FC and the Canadian national team, he spent time around the players while building the album, connecting with names like Alphonso Davies and Dayne St. Clair and even taking inspiration from their conversations and musical tastes.

In conversation with Billboard Canada, Boi-1da opens up about soccer culture, the collaborative spirit behind What If It All Goes Right? and why representing Canada through music feels a lot like competing on the world stage.

You’ve spoken before about being a massive soccer fan. How deep does that obsession go for you?

I watch like as much soccer as I can. I'm a huge supporter of Toronto FC and the [Canadian] national team. I also follow what all our players on their separate club teams do. I love Alfonso Davies. I really like Richie Laryea, Tajon Buchanan, Cyle Larin, Stephen Eustáquio is really good. I really love Marcelo Flores too. He's a great young player. I think he's going to be very promising in the future. I just love what they're all doing, man. I'm excited to see them.

I've gotten to know a lot of the guys better. I talk to them pretty frequently, and they're really cool guys. I'm very grateful to be able to do this project and connect with them, hear the type of music that they like. I've even got some suggestions from them for the project.

What kinds of conversations were you having with the players while putting this project together?

Some of the suggestions were just artists to work with. Our goalie, Dayne St. Clair, he suggested I work with NorthSideBenji because he's a big fan. I'm a fan of NorthSideBenji too, but I wasn't thinking to do that. But he put that bug in my ear and I was like, you know what, that could be a great idea. And it turned into one.

How did your relationship with Canada Soccer first come together, and when did the idea for Perfect Pitch really start taking shape?

The relationship started from my friend at Infinity &, Jerry Deifer, who came up with the idea and brought it to my management [link]. Just being able to make a huge moment out of the World Cup being played in Canada, I wanted to be involved. The charity aspect was also big for me, with the money going towards helping children play soccer.

I have a lot of kids in my family that play, and I've seen kids on different teams that weren't able to afford it. My daughter plays, she's really good. I watch her play and I go to all her games and support her journey. She's turning 16. It's like a family unit when you're a soccer dad. When one kid is struggling with something, you feel it.

You’re around the game so much now. Have you ever thought about coaching yourself?

No, I haven't coached, but [Canadian head coach] Jesse Marsch told me I should be a coach. I'm not taking that lightly, man, because Jesse's a wise, wise guy. He said he's seen something in me. He always gives me motivation, and he's kind of a motivation to the project itself. I actually sampled his voice on [opening song] "We Came To Bleed" with Zed's Dead and ARDN. I played it for him and he couldn't believe it was him.

What was the overarching philosophy behind Perfect Pitch creatively? What did you want the project to represent?

I loved the idea of making an album for the country and just doing something for the country period. I treat it like I'm in the World Cup. I treat it like playing a sport, but with music. And I want to compete with other countries too. They're making their albums and they're making their songs. I want to be the best. I get to represent my country in the way that I can, which is through music.

Do you see similarities between what artists do and what elite athletes do, especially at that level?

There are parallels, for sure. As a musician, I watch a lot of sports. And these athletes, they need the music to motivate them. They need it like its fuel.

I was at the Drake concert with Alphonso [Davies] in Germany. Alphonso and Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala, they were all there. it was just a vibe, man. We were watching the show laughing, cracking jokes. They came to both shows and we ended up hanging out after, so I really got to know Phonzo. He's a great leader for our team. He also got me tickets to go see a Bayern Munich game, which was incredible.

I could see them [at the show]. They're like, yo, man, it's sick to be on stage. But then we go to the game and we watch them play, and we're like, yo, I wish that was me out there!

How collaborative was the process when deciding who to bring onto the album?

Discussing with the players, discussing with Jerry [Deifer], with my team, the ideas I had in my head. We wanted to get everybody involved. It's the World Cup. It doesn't come here often. So I wanted to showcase as much Canadian talent on every level, from producers to artists, legendary acts to older acts to newer acts,and just showcase what we can do in Canada.

One of the most striking things about the project is how many different genres and cultures it pulls from. How intentional was that in reflecting Canada itself?

A lot of people associate me with making a lot of hip-hop music, obviously. But really and truly my goal for this project was to make a song for everyone. And that's because Canada is so diverse. There's Indian people. There's Italian people. There's Caribbean people. There's Chinese people. There's Indigenous people. There's people from all over and we all love and respect and share.

I want to give you a feel of Canada. That's what really makes me most proud about this body of work. I was able to showcase my range and showcase the range of Canada, like the range of talent that we have. Canada has some of the most talented people, if not the most talented people in the world. I'm very proud that it showed on this project.

Were there any collaborations on the album that surprised you creatively or ended up becoming especially meaningful?

I really enjoyed my sessions with Nelly Furtado. It just felt effortless. It was like we weren't even really even working, but we got an amazing song done out of it. I was in there with her, her daughter, Nevus, and we just all made the song so easily and effortlessly. It was such a fun process. We're going to probably do more stuff together because this was like a one-for-one moment with us and we want to get back to it. I've always been a huge fan of Nelly, so it was an honour to get in with her and work with her.

That was my very, very first time being in the studio with Nelly. I grew up listening to Nelly Furtado. I would always dream about working with her because I'm a huge Timbaland fan as well. The music that they made when I was growing up changed the sound of the game. I feel like Nelly's doing that again.

The Tragically Hip tribute feels particularly emotional on the album. How carefully did you approach reimagining something so culturally important to Canada?

The Tragically Hip means a lot to Canada. It's a huge staple in Canada, culturally. It's very sensitive, especially with the passing of Gord Downie. I tried to think of the best way to make the most tasteful tribute to that song. So we ended up getting Dallas Green and Ruby Waters on it. Dallas Green is also the last person to ever work with Gord, to collaborate with him. It was really emotional for Dallas. I feel like we made the most epic version of that song. It's a tribute to what the Tragically Hip have given to Canada.

With the World Cup bringing so much international attention to Canada, what are you hoping people take away from Toronto and the country as a whole?

The city is going to be live. It's going to be a big time. The whole world is going to be here in Canada. I hope people just see a bunch of people that are all from different places, but from one place and in unison. We have great food, the people are beautiful. Everything about Canada is lovely, except for the weather sometimes.

WHAT IF IT ALL GOES RIGHT?