Soccer legend Pele has written a song to cheer on his native Brazil in the World Cup as it prepares to host the June 12-July 13 tournament.

"It's given me so much happiness, it's made me cry, football is in our nation's veins," goes the opening verse, which Pele sang to journalists on Sunday.

The three-time World Cup winner said "there needed to be a Brazilian song" after the release of the official tournament song by Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez and another Cup theme song by Ricky Martin.