BTS performed at FIFA’s first-ever halftime show Sunday, taking part in an 11-minute mega-mix performance during the World Cup 2026 final game between Spain and Argentina.
The seven-member global boy group, comprising members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook, treated the crowd at New York New Jersey Stadium, known outside of World Cup time as MetLife Stadium, with a rendition of their 2020 hit “Dynamite.”
BTS joined Madonna, Justin Bieber and Shakira, along with Burna Boy, the New York Philharmonic’s Gustavo Dudamel and The Muppets, in the jam-packed halftime show. Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt also made an appearance as their characters from Ted Lasso. Sunday’s game comes after cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico hosted matches throughout the tournament.
The youngest member of the K-pop sensation, Jung Kook, kicked off BTS’ segment of the show following a nod to Norway’s viking row celebration. The 28-year-old was dressed, much like his other group members in red, black and white, pairing a cool motto jacket with sunglasses. The rest of BTS trickled in as the song continued.
BTS opted to modify the lyrics to “Dynamite” to make them fit Sunday’s game with lines like “King Kong, kick the ball” and “Ding-dong, call me on my phone / Ice tea, and a game of football” — the latter sang by V, whose real name is Taehyung Kim, who pretended to kick a ball as he delivered the line.
The halftime was produced by Global Citizen with programming curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. The non-profit organization has a goal of raising $100 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund — each ticket purchased throughout the World Cup has had $1 donated to the fund.
The record-breaking boy group is in the midst of a massive comeback year. All seven members returned to group activities last year following their mandatory military enlistment in their home country of South Korea to world on a new album. They released that album, Arirang, in March.
BTS is in the midst of a large scale world tour in support of Arirang. They took a break from their string of sold-out shows in Las Vegas in May to take home three American Music Awards in their post-enlistment return to award shows. They’re scheduled to return to Sin City for the iHeartRadio Music Festival in September.
The K-pop group will return to MetLife Stadium in just a few short weeks to perform two sold-out shows of their own at the stadium on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2.
Watch BTS and the full halftime show below.
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