BTS headlines history's first World Cup halftime show in Red Devils kit

BTS performs at the halftime show of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. [Getty Images/Yonhap]

A roar erupted across the stadium as Jungkook, the youngest member of BTS, stepped onto a crimson stage laid over the green turf and opened with the first verse of global megahit "Dynamite." The group went on to headline what may be the largest convergence of football and music in history.

BTS took the stage Monday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as co-headliners of the first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina — sharing the bill with some of the biggest pop stars of the era, including Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber.

Coldplay vocalist Chris Martin, who shares a deep musical bond with BTS, served as overall curator and director of the show. From the planning stages, Martin shaped the performance around a message of human unity and coexistence that transcended borders, generations and musical genres.

BTS appeared second among the co-headliners, following Madonna. The members performed in outfits accented with the colors of the Red Devils, the iconic symbol of South Korean football.

The group chose "Dynamite," the pandemic-era megahit that captivated audiences worldwide, as their centerpiece. Their powerful synchronized choreography and steady live vocals held the attention of the packed stadium and an estimated 1 billion viewers around the world.

The seven members reworked the original lyrics to include the football-themed line "kick the ball / a game of football," giving the performance added resonance at the World Cup final.

BTS performing as a complete unit at the first halftime show in World Cup history carries particular weight. Jungkook had performed solo at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but this time all seven members closed out the planet's biggest sporting festival together. Experts at home and abroad called the performance a landmark moment confirming K-pop's arrival as a full-fledged force in the global mainstream.

Through their agency Big Hit Music, BTS said: "It is an honor to stand at the first halftime show of a World Cup final. We are overjoyed to have shared a stage full of love and good intentions with such wonderful artists and children — it felt like a dream. We believe it was the power of ARMY around the world that brought us to this stage."

The halftime show brought together genres spanning pop, Latin, K-pop, R&B and Afrobeats. BTS represented K-pop alongside pop icons Madonna and Justin Bieber, Latin pop queen Shakira, and Nigerian Afrobeats singer Burna Boy. Venezuelan-born conductor Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the LA Philharmonic, and the New York-based PS22 Chorus rounded out the lineup, completing what amounted to a musical feast.

Coldplay's Chris Martin, Shakira, a children's choir and all performers gather for the halftime show finale. [Reuters/Yonhap]

The finale brought the entire cast together — Coldplay, BTS, Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, a multiracial children's choir and Sesame Street characters — for a performance of "We Dance," accompanied by a tribute video to Pelé calling for love. A giant "Earth Ball" image unfurled across the center of the pitch, symbolizing global unity, peace and solidarity. The moment transcended borders, cultures and generations, uniting everyone in the stadium as one.

Global Citizen, an international civic organization, produced the show. The worldwide broadcast also helped raise awareness for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which Global Citizen operates to expand access to quality education and sports for children in underserved communities around the world.

Despite the show's smooth execution, the unprecedented delay sparked immediate debate. Originally allotted 12 minutes, the halftime break stretched to 27 minutes due to the time needed to install and dismantle the large-scale stage equipment — nearly double the 15-minute halftime period stipulated by the International Football Association Board. Critics argued that the extended break significantly raised the injury risk for players competing under the intense pressure of a World Cup final, and that it shattered the tactical momentum and drama built during the first half.

shee@heraldcorp.com