“Led Zeppelin’s ‘Fool in the Rain’ Wasn’t About Love — It Was About the World Cup”

The World Cup’s Surprising Influence on Led Zeppelin’s ‘Fool in the Rain’

Football has long been more than just a sport. It’s a global phenomenon, its rhythms and rituals embedded in cultures from the sun-drenched streets of Rio de Janeiro to the damp pitches of the English countryside. And every four years, the World Cup emerges as a unifying spectacle — one that even manages to draw the gaze of those outside the typical football sphere, including some of rock’s most revered icons.

Among them were Led Zeppelin. Despite being more synonymous with roaring riffs and sold-out arenas than the beautiful game, the band found unlikely inspiration in the tournament. In particular, the 1978 World Cup, held in Argentina, had a curious impact on the band’s creative direction.

Although England failed to qualify for that year’s competition, the event still captured attention across the UK. Led Zeppelin’s members were no exception. Robert Plant is a devoted Wolverhampton Wanderers fan, while Jimmy Page has a known fondness for Chelsea. Yet, they weren’t about to lend their names to a novelty football anthem or a corny World Cup jingle. Instead, what caught their ears wasn’t the football — it was the music.

The 1978 tournament’s broadcast was drenched in the vibrant sounds of samba — a genre steeped in Brazilian heritage and driven by infectious rhythm and joy. It was this sonic backdrop, rather than the sporting drama, that proved transformative. As Robert Plant and John Paul Jones absorbed the atmosphere, they began weaving those samba influences into their own work.

The result was ‘Fool in the Rain’, one of the standout tracks from In Through the Out Door, released in 1979. The track marked a notable shift in tone for Led Zeppelin — a band previously known for seismic anthems like ‘Black Dog’ and ‘Rock and Roll’. Here, they ventured into unfamiliar territory: breezy grooves, syncopated percussion, and Latin-inspired flair.

The song’s unexpected rhythmic bounce can be traced directly back to the samba sounds that dominated World Cup coverage. It’s a world away from the band’s earlier sonic palette, but it injected a new life and levity into their later work.

While In Through the Out Door faced its share of criticism over the years, ‘Fool in the Rain’ has endured as a fan favourite — an outlier that revealed the band’s willingness to explore beyond the confines of hard rock. It was also the final Led Zeppelin single released in the United States before the group disbanded in 1980, adding a layer of poignancy to its legacy.

In hindsight, it seems fitting. A band that redefined rock ‘n’ roll found late inspiration in one of the world’s oldest and most joyful musical traditions — via one of its biggest sporting events. No, Led Zeppelin never penned a football anthem. But they did, in their own distinctive way, let the spirit of the World Cup echo through their music.