BTS made history by performing as a co headliner at the first halftime show ever held during a FIFA World Cup final.
The group took the stage at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, local time, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. They performed alongside major global artists, including Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber.
BTS opened their appearance with “Dynamite”, their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. For the special performance, the members changed parts of the original lyrics to football related lines that matched the atmosphere of the final.
The stage also featured a large “Earth Ball” image at the center of the stadium, representing global unity, peace, and solidarity.
Near the end of the halftime show, BTS returned to perform “We Dance”, a song written by Coldplay for the 2026 World Cup. Coldplay, Shakira, Justin Bieber, Sesame Street, the Muppets, and New York’s PS 22 Chorus also joined the performance.
The show was produced by Global Citizen and promoted the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to provide children in underserved communities with better access to education and sports.
Following the performance, BTS shared their thoughts through BigHit Music.
“We have enjoyed watching the World Cup since we were young, so it is an honor to perform at the first halftime show of the final,” the members said.
They continued, “We were happy to perform for a good cause while sharing a message of love with amazing artists and children. It felt like a dream”.
BTS also credited their global fandom for helping them reach the historic stage.
“We believe we were able to reach this stage because of the influence of ARMY around the world,” they said. “We sincerely thank everyone who watched us.”
The performance came shortly after BTS completed the European leg of their “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’”, which drew approximately 717,000 fans across 10 concerts in five cities.
The group will continue its tour at MetLife Stadium on August 1 and 2.
