BTS appears at the 2026 World Cup halftime show, sending the crowd wild with “Dynamite”
1 minute 45 seconds is nowhere near enough 🔥
Summary
- The FIFA World Cup final on July 19, 2026 broke a 96-year tradition by staging a 30-minute halftime show for the first time.
- All seven BTS members wore custom ARIRANG red jerseys created just for them, with their names and their signature number 7 printed on the back.
- In the 28°C New York stadium, BTS delivered a 1-minute-45-second performance of “Dynamite,” sharing the stage with more than 20 dancers.
- The lineup for this show was curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, and also featured global superstars such as Shakira and Madonna.
As the championship match between Spain and Argentina was in full swing, fans were treated to the biggest surprise in FIFA’s 96-year history. The World Cup final on July 19, 2026, featured a halftime show for the first time, and when the familiar opening of “Dynamite” rang out at MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium), the crowd was every bit as electrified as it would be by a goal. BTS made history once again, taking center stage in this spectacular show.
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Having only just wrapped the European leg of their “World Tour ARIRANG” this month, BTS landed from Paris the night before and rushed straight to East Rutherford, New Jersey, to take part in the global event.
A World-Class Party That Breaks Tradition
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Halftime at past World Cup matches usually lasted just 15 minutes, but for this unprecedented halftime show, FIFA made an exception and extended it to 30 minutes. Planned by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and co-produced with Global Citizen, the event featured an impressive lineup. In addition to BTS, there were Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, and the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
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Even among such a massive and diverse lineup, BTS still firmly captured the attention of audiences around the world.
Red Looks in 28°C Heat and Their Signature No. 7
When RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook stepped onto the field, their custom outfits were impossible to miss. The seven members changed into red ARIRANG jerseys that echoed the tour’s theme. Each was printed with the member’s name and the number “7,” a number that holds special meaning for them and their fans.
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Performing an intense song-and-dance routine in full gear at a humid outdoor stadium in temperatures as high as 28°C is no small challenge. Despite the jet lag and travel fatigue from the day before, BTS still gave it their all with boundless energy. Their professionalism is truly admirable.
The Perfect Meeting of Music and Soccer
During their dedicated 1-minute, 45-second slot, BTS chose “Dynamite,” the chart-topping single that earned them their first Grammy nomination. Surrounded by more than 20 dancers, with the lyrics displayed on giant screens, the venue felt like a huge karaoke sing-along. Looking back over the past few years, brands and major sporting events have increasingly understood how to bring K-pop’s influence together with sports. From BTS’s 2022 collaboration with Hyundai on a campaign song for the Qatar World Cup, to Jung Kook becoming the first to perform “Dreamers” at the opening ceremony, this full-group reunion for the final’s halftime show has undoubtedly taken the connection between pop music and global sporting events to a new level.
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As the show drew to a close, BTS returned to the field with all the other performers and danced to an unreleased new single by Coldplay. This crossover party, combining the sweat of competition with top-tier entertainment, has already left a memorable mark on the history of sports and music. Fans can keep an eye on official channels for more high-definition behind-the-scenes footage.
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