The song became a global hit when it was chosen as Coca-Cola's promotional anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted by South Africa.

This amended international version with additional lyrics reached the top ten in more than twenty different charts around the world.

In 2012, K'naan published a children's book, When I Get Older: The Story Behind Wavin' Flag, about the song and its history.

[2] K'naan first performed the song acoustically live on Q TV, where he gave viewers a preview of Troubadour prior to its release.

Participating soloists included K'naan, Nelly Furtado, Sam Roberts, Avril Lavigne, Pierre Bouvier, Tyler Connolly, Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, Lights, Deryck Whibley, Serena Ryder, Jacob Hoggard, Emily Haines, Hawksley Workman, Drake, Chin Injeti, Ima, Pierre Lapointe, Elisapie Isaac, Esthero, Corb Lund, Fefe Dobson, Nikki Yanofsky, Matt Mays, Justin Nozuka, and Justin Bieber.

Performing the chorus were Arkells, Lamar Ashe, Broken Social Scene, Torquil Campbell, Canadian Tenors, Aion Clarke, City and Colour, Tom Cochrane, Jim Cuddy, Jim Creeggan, Kathleen Edwards, Dave Faber, Jessie Farrell, Colin James, Pat Kordyback, Brandon Lehti, Colin MacDonald, Jay Malinowski, Stacey McKitrick, Suzie McNeil, Stephan Moccio, Kevin Parent, Josh Ramsay, Red 1, Hayley Sales, James Shaw, and Shiloh.

A music video was shot for the charity single at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

In 2010, a remix of the song, titled the "Celebration Mix", was recorded for use as Coca-Cola's promotional anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted by South Africa.

[citation needed] The remix video was recorded in Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, the site of the first 1930 FIFA World Cup Final.

A separate music video was made for this version, with the artists performing in front of a large black flag.

This version was entitled the "Spanish Celebration Mix", and was officially made available for digital download in February 2010.

As a part of the promotion, a music video of the Spanish Celebration Mix was filmed and released for the song.