The boy band BTS took the stage for the halftime show of the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) North and Central America World Cup final.
On the 19th (local time), BTS said through its agency BigHit Music, "We have enjoyed watching the World Cup since we were young, and it is an honor to appear in the first halftime show of the final," adding, "We are happy to perform for a good cause, shouting love together with amazing artists and children, and it feels like a dream."
They added, "Thanks to the influence of 'ARMY' (the fandom) around the world, we were able to reach this stage," and "We are truly grateful to everyone who watched."
The final was held at New Jersey Stadium in New York, United States. BTS stood shoulder to shoulder with giants who lead the global music market, including Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber, and proudly earned billing as a co-headliner.
That day, the seven members wore matching red outfits reminiscent of the Red Devils, Korea's national soccer cheering squad, and belted out their signature song "Dynamite." The track, which topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the main singles chart, for three weeks in 2020 for the first time in Korean music history, carries a warm message that comforted people around the world during the pandemic.
To elevate the completeness of the performance, BTS showed flair by changing some lyrics to expressions related to soccer. A large image modeled after the Earth was staged at the center of the pitch, creating a moving moment of breaking down barriers of nation, culture, and age to become one.
In particular, member Suga added a Red Devils patch to the outfit for emphasis, and Jimin appeared wearing a uniform-style top emblazoned with the number "7," the jersey number of Son Heung-min, captain of the Korea national soccer team, and the team's symbol, drawing a heated response from fans.
In the latter part of the show, BTS reappeared to deliver the finale. They shared the stage with the British band Coldplay, Shakira, and Justin Bieber, as well as the famed puppet characters Sesame Street and the Muppets, and the PS 22 Chorus from New York's Staten Island public school. Together they closed by jointly singing "We Dance," a song Coldplay created specially to commemorate this tournament.
The performance was organized under the initiative of Global Citizen, an international civic movement group, to widely promote the purpose of the "FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund," which was established to provide educational opportunities to children in underserved regions around the world.