BTS will co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at New York New Jersey Stadium. The seven-member K-pop group performs alongside Madonna and Shakira in an 11-minute set curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. It is the first time BTS will perform as a full group at a FIFA event, four years after Jungkook headlined the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar as a solo act.
The booking arrives at a peak commercial moment for BTS. Their comeback album Arirang debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 on March 30, 2026, with the largest first-week unit total by a group in over a decade. This is everything you need to know about BTS at the World Cup, including the full member lineup, Jungkook’s historic Qatar performance, and the group’s K-pop chart records.
Quick Facts About BTS at the World Cup 2026
- Show Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026
- Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium)
- Co-Headliners: Madonna, Shakira
- Curator: Chris Martin (Coldplay)
- Show Length: 11 minutes (split across three headliners)
- BTS’s Expected Set: 3 to 4 minutes
- Members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jungkook
- First Full-Group FIFA Performance: Yes
- Previous FIFA Connection: Jungkook performed “Dreamers” at 2022 Qatar opening ceremony
- Current Album: Arirang (released March 20, 2026)
- Hot 100 Number-One Singles: 7
The BTS Member Lineup
BTS consists of seven members, each contributing distinct vocal or rap roles to the group’s sound. All seven completed mandatory South Korean military service by June 2025 and reunited for their comeback album Arirang.
RM (Leader, Rapper)
Real name Kim Namjoon. Born September 12, 1994 in Ilsan, South Korea. RM is the group’s leader and main rapper, known for fluent English skills that have made him BTS’s primary spokesperson in international interviews. He addressed the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of BTS in 2018, 2020, and 2021. His solo discography includes the albums Mono (2018), Indigo (2022), and Right Place, Wrong Person (2024).
Jin (Vocalist)
Real name Kim Seokjin. Born December 4, 1992. Jin is the oldest member and one of the lead vocalists, known for his clear tenor voice. His 2022 solo single “The Astronaut,” co-written with Coldplay’s Chris Martin, debuted at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jin was the first BTS member to enlist for military service in December 2022 and was discharged in June 2024.
Suga (Rapper, Producer)
Real name Min Yoongi. Born March 9, 1993. Suga is one of BTS’s three rappers and serves as a primary producer for the group. He has released solo music under his alias Agust D, including the mixtapes Agust D (2016) and D-2 (2020) and his debut studio album D-Day (2023).
His 2023 Agust D D-Day Tour made him the first BTS member to embark on a solo tour and became the highest-grossing tour by an Asian soloist in US history, grossing $57.2 million across 28 shows.
J-Hope (Rapper, Dancer)
Real name Jung Hoseok. Born February 18, 1994. J-Hope is BTS’s main dancer and one of the rappers. He made history at Lollapalooza Chicago on July 31, 2022, becoming the first South Korean artist to headline the main stage at a major US music festival. His debut studio album Jack in the Box (2022) peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200, and Hope on the Street Vol. 1 followed in 2024.
Jimin (Vocalist, Dancer)
Real name Park Jimin. Born October 13, 1995. Jimin is one of BTS’s lead vocalists and main dancers. His 2023 solo single “Like Crazy” became the first Hot 100 number-one single by a Korean solo artist. His debut album Face (2023) debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, the highest-charting album by a South Korean solo artist in Billboard chart history at the time of release.
V (Vocalist)
Real name Kim Taehyung. Born December 30, 1995. V is known for his distinctive baritone voice and visual presence. His 2023 debut EP Layover debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and topped the iTunes Album Chart in over 100 countries. His solo single “FRI(END)S” was released in March 2024 ahead of his military enlistment.
Jungkook (Vocalist, Main Performer)
Real name Jeon Jungkook. Born September 1, 1997. Jungkook is the youngest member (known as the “golden maknae”) and BTS’s main vocalist. He represented BTS solo at the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar.
His 2023 debut solo album Golden debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 25 weeks, the longest run by an Asian solo artist. His single “Seven” with Latto debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the fastest song in Spotify history to surpass one billion streams, hitting the milestone in 108 days.
Jungkook’s 2022 Qatar World Cup Performance
Jungkook became the first Korean artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony on November 20, 2022 at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. The performance came at the start of host Qatar’s match against Ecuador and put K-pop on a stage of unprecedented scale.
The performance: Dressed in an all-black shimmering suit, Jungkook performed his solo single “Dreamers” surrounded by approximately three dozen dancers wearing masks and silver jumpsuits with red stripes. He was joined midway through the performance by Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi. The performance was the live debut of “Dreamers,” which was released the same day as part of the official 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar soundtrack.
About the song: “Dreamers” was produced by RedOne, who joined FIFA as Creative Entertainment Executive in late 2021 and previously worked with Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, and Enrique Iglesias. The song was Jungkook’s third solo track of 2022, following “Stay Alive” (February 2022, produced by Suga) and his Charlie Puth collaboration “Left & Right” (June 2022).
The viral impact: FIFA’s official YouTube video of the performance surpassed 50 million views within six months. The official “Dreamers” music video on FIFA’s channel exceeded 155 million views, making it FIFA’s most-watched video. The performance helped “Dreamers” peak at number nine on the Billboard Global 200 and number 10 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.
Why 2026 is different: The 2022 Qatar appearance was a solo performance. The 2026 World Cup halftime show will be the first time the complete seven-member BTS group performs at a FIFA event together. It marks a return to FIFA’s biggest stage with the full lineup that took K-pop global.
What to Expect From BTS at the World Cup 2026 Halftime Show
The BTS segment is expected to run approximately 3 to 4 minutes as part of the 11-minute three-headliner show. The group brings stadium-scale choreography experience from their 2018-2022 world tours and the current Arirang World Tour, which kicked off April 9, 2026.
Based on BTS’s English-language catalog, their global recognition, and the Arirang rollout, here are the tracks most likely to feature.
Almost certain: “Dynamite” (their 2020 breakthrough English-language hit that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and is the most universally recognized BTS song internationally) and “Butter” (spent 10 weeks at number one on the Hot 100 in 2021, with massive global recognition built for stadium performance).
Strong possibilities: “Swim” (the lead single from Arirang, their most recent Hot 100 number one in March 2026), “Permission to Dance” (2021 single co-written by Ed Sheeran, designed for accessibility and global crowd participation), and “Boy With Luv” featuring Halsey (the 2019 single that broke the YouTube 24-hour viewing record at release).
Possible surprises: A medley of “DNA” / “Idol” / “Fake Love” (catalog deep cuts highlighting the group’s pre-English era), “Body to Body” (the Arirang opening track that became a fan favorite during the 2026 album rollout), or an a cappella moment featuring BTS’s vocal line (Jin, Jimin, V, Jungkook) for a Madonna-Shakira-BTS group finale.
BTS Career Records and Achievements
BTS holds the title of best-selling musical act in South Korean history per the Circle Chart, with over 40 million albums sold domestically. They are the only K-pop group to achieve global mainstream success at scale and remain the highest-charting Korean act on every major Western music chart.
| Achievement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hot 100 number-one singles | 7 (including Swim, 2026) |
| Billboard 200 number-one albums | 7 consecutive |
| Grammy nominations | 5 |
| Guinness World Records | 26 (Hall of Fame inductee 2022) |
| Domestic albums sold (Korea) | 40+ million |
| Spotify streams (total) | 30+ billion |
| American Music Awards Artist of the Year | First Asian act to win (2021) |
| MTV VMA Group of the Year | 4 consecutive wins |
| Billboard Music Awards | 12+ wins |
| United Nations addresses | 3 (2018, 2020, 2021) |
Hot 100 number-one singles: “Dynamite” (August 2020), “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” with Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo (October 2020), “Life Goes On” (December 2020), “Butter” (June 2021), “Permission to Dance” (July 2021), “My Universe” with Coldplay (October 2021), and “Swim” (March 2026). “Butter” spent 10 weeks at number one, the longest of any BTS Hot 100 chart-topper.
Billboard 200 number-one albums: Love Yourself: Tear (2018), Love Yourself: Answer (2018), Map of the Soul: Persona (2019), Map of the Soul: 7 (2020), Be (2020), Proof (2022), and Arirang (2026). The Arirang debut at 641,000 album-equivalent units in its first week was the largest week for a group since Billboard began measuring by units in December 2014.
The Arirang Era and 2026 World Tour
Arirang released on March 20, 2026, marking BTS’s first studio album since Be (2020) and their first full-group project since the Proof anthology in June 2022. The 14-track album was named after the traditional Korean folk song widely considered Korea’s unofficial national anthem.
Production featured collaborators including Pdogg, Diplo, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Flume, JPEGMafia, Mike WiLL Made-It, and Teezo Touchdown. The album debuted at number one in over 25 countries.
The Arirang World Tour kicked off April 9, 2026 at Goyang Stadium in South Korea and runs through March 14, 2027 in Manila, Philippines. The tour spans 85 dates across 34 cities in 23 countries, making it the largest world tour ever mounted by a single act from South Korea. The North American leg passes through East Rutherford (the same venue as the World Cup final), creating geographic alignment with the halftime show booking.
How to Watch the Halftime Show
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19, 2026 on FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish). The halftime show is expected to begin around 4:00 to 4:20 p.m. ET, depending on first-half stoppage time.
US viewers can watch free over the air with a digital antenna on both networks, or stream via the FOX Sports app (TV provider login required) and Peacock for Spanish coverage. International broadcasters carrying the final include BBC and ITV in the UK, TSN in Canada, TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca in Mexico, SBS in Australia, and RTVE in Spain.
For full broadcast and streaming details, see our complete FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show guide.
FAQ About BTS at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Halftime Show
How long will BTS perform at the World Cup halftime show?
The full halftime show runs approximately 11 minutes, split between BTS, Madonna, and Shakira. BTS is expected to receive 3 to 4 minutes of solo stage time, plus a potential group finale with the other headliners.
Will BTS perform “Dreamers” from the 2022 Qatar World Cup?
FIFA has not confirmed the setlist. “Dreamers” is technically a Jungkook solo song, not a full BTS track, so its inclusion would be unusual. The group is more likely to feature current Arirang material and English-language hits like “Dynamite” and “Butter.”
Are all seven BTS members confirmed for the World Cup halftime show?
FIFA announced BTS as a co-headliner without naming individual members. The group’s standard practice is to perform as a complete seven-member unit at major events, especially since their post-military comeback in March 2026. All seven members are expected to take the stage.
Will BTS sing in Korean or English at the World Cup?
FIFA has not confirmed the language. BTS’s Hot 100 number-one singles include both English-language tracks (“Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance”) and Korean-language tracks (“Life Goes On,” “Swim”). A mixed-language set is most likely given the global audience expected to exceed 1.6 billion viewers for the final.
Has any K-pop act performed at the FIFA World Cup halftime show before?
No. BTS will be the first K-pop act to headline a FIFA World Cup final halftime show. K-pop’s FIFA history is limited to Jungkook’s 2022 solo opening ceremony performance and Lisa of Blackpink’s announced appearance at the 2026 Los Angeles opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium on June 12, where she becomes the first female K-pop artist to perform at a FIFA opening event.
Is BTS still on hiatus or are they fully reunited?
BTS is fully reunited as of March 2026. All seven members completed mandatory South Korean military service by June 2025. Their comeback album Arirang released March 20, 2026, and the Arirang World Tour began April 9, 2026. The four-year hiatus that began in 2022 has officially ended.
Will any BTS members perform solo songs during the halftime show?
FIFA has not confirmed the setlist structure. As a full-group reunion booking, the halftime show is expected to feature BTS group tracks rather than solo material. However, given the 3 to 4 minute slot, the group could weave in a brief moment showcasing Jungkook’s vocal lead (a tribute to his 2022 Qatar performance) or a rap line moment featuring RM, Suga, and J-Hope.
Can fans buy tickets to attend the World Cup final in person?
Tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at New York New Jersey Stadium go through FIFA’s official ticketing portal at FIFA.com/tickets and authorized resellers including On Location for hospitality packages. Demand is expected to be extraordinarily high given the first-ever halftime show booking with BTS, Madonna, and Shakira.
The World Cup 2026 halftime show marks the largest live audience BTS has ever performed for, with global final viewership projected to exceed 1.6 billion viewers and overall tournament engagement projected at 6 billion across all media platforms. Their booking confirms K-pop’s permanent place on the world’s biggest entertainment stages and rewards ARMY fans who waited four years for the group’s full reunion.
