Songs to Play Before a Match: Athlete-Approved Anthems and Pump-Up Tracks That Overflow with Power
At those crucial moments—like during daily practice or right before an important match—music stays by our side and gives us tremendous strength.
Many of you probably listen to your favorite songs to boost your spirits as you head into those special moments.
In this article, we’ve picked out uplifting, heart-stirring anthems that raise your motivation.
From upbeat tracks that fire up your fighting spirit, to relaxing numbers that wrap you in a sense of calm, to athletes’ personal favorites—we’ve gathered a wide variety of songs.
We hope you’ll find them helpful.
- [Hype Songs] A must-listen for athletes and sports lovers! A curated selection of tracks that boost motivation
- [Fuel Your Fighting Spirit] An Adrenaline-Pumping Fight Song
- Entrance Songs for Athletes | A Comprehensive Introduction to Athletes’ Game-Day Anthems!
- Before a match or when you feel like giving up! Cheer songs to keep you going in club activities
- [2026] Motivation Boost! A Collection of Classic Western Songs to Listen to Before a Match
- [Exams, Club Activities, Dreams] Encouragement songs recommended for teens: Tracks to listen to when you want to do your best
- Entrance music for sports. Classic and popular athlete anthems.
- [Basketball Cheer Songs] A curated selection of tournament theme songs and energizing anthems!
- Song of Victory: Iconic Tracks Smiled Upon by the Goddess & Uplifting Cheer Anthems
- Recommended cheer-up songs for high school students: tracks that will motivate you to do your best on entrance exams and club activities when you listen to them.
- Ranking of popular sports songs
- Koshien Songs & Theme Songs: Iconic Tracks and Fight Songs That Support High School Baseball Players
- [Today's Cheer Song] To everyone giving it your all! A gem of an inspiring anthem that resonates with the heart
[Songs to Play Before a Match] Beloved by Athletes Too!? Power-Packed Anthems and Battle Tracks (181–190)
phoenixShonan no Kaze
A 2020 May release from Shonan no Kaze that sings of the resolve to face adversity, set against a powerful fusion of reggae and rock.
Its energetic layers of sound and uplifting message centered on rebirth and revival encourage those who keep moving forward without giving up, even when they hit a wall.
Perfect for building pre-game motivation or boosting a team’s overall morale! A recommended track for athletes who train daily toward their goals.
JitterbugELLEGARDEN
It’s their third single, released in 2003.
The lyrics are primarily in Japanese, and Hosomi said it was the first song where he seriously engaged with the Japanese language.
With very straightforward, direct lyrics, it’s a perfect track for facing a match head-on.
NIPPONShiina Ringo
This is a powerful cheering song by Ringo Sheena, released in May 2014 as the theme song for Japan’s national soccer team.
Included on the album Hi Izuru Tokoro, it features a rock sound infused with traditional Japanese elements, creating an energetic track that lifts the spirits of viewers.
With lyrics invoking words like “banzai” and “departure for battle,” the song conveys the weight of kanji, expressing Japan’s tradition and pride while delivering a passionate message that inspires the courage to take on challenges.
Chosen as the theme for NHK’s soccer-related programs and used during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the song drew considerable attention.
If you listen when you need to fire yourself up, it’s sure to give you a push.
I Miss The MiseryHalestorm
Halestorm is a rock band from the United States.
As a hard rock band with a female vocalist, they boast top-tier popularity and prowess.
Among Halestorm’s works, the track I especially recommend is I Miss The Misery.
It’s quintessential hard rock, with a high-voltage, hard-hitting sound from the verse straight through the chorus.
Lizzy Hale’s high-pitched shouts will crank your motivation straight into top gear.
StoryAI
That powerful singing voice really leaves an impression.
This is a signature song by AI, a singer born in the United States and raised in Kagoshima.
It was released in 2005 as her 12th single.
It became a big hit, surpassing 2 million downloads as a ringtone.
Yuka Kanematsu from women’s rugby football is said to like this song.
Apparently, she even listens to it while doing housework.
FANTASTIC BABYBIGBANG
This is a song that women’s rugby player Marie Yamaguchi often listens to.
It’s a track by the South Korean male music group BIGBANG, included on their fifth mini-album, ALIVE, released in 2012.
To get herself hyped up, Yamaguchi seems to frequently listen to upbeat, high-energy tunes like this one.
It definitely lifts your spirits.
Eh YoKōda Kumi
The song table tennis player Kasumi Ishikawa loves listening to is “Eh Yo,” sung by Kumi Koda.
This track was written as a support song for the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Hanazono.
Since Osaka’s Hanazono was one of the host venues, the title “Eh Yo” is said to be a play on the Kansai dialect phrase “ee yo” (meaning “it’s good” or “sure”).
It’s a playful, Osaka-themed touch that’s pretty fun.
It’s a rock-style number that really showcases Kumi Koda’s cool, powerful presence.
Highly recommended when you want to get pumped up!
