[Music Y] BTS Proves the 'Super Bowl' Dream Was Never Just a Dream: "We Will Spread Hope and Unity at the World Cup"

BTS is set to take the stage for the first-ever halftime show in the history of the FIFA World Cup final. Having previously expressed their desire to "someday create a Super Bowl stage in our own way," the group now finds themselves at the center of one of the world's biggest sporting events, drawing massive attention from global fans.

On May 14 (local time), Global Citizen and FIFA announced that BTS will perform as co-headliners for the '2026 FIFA World Cup™' final halftime show, which will take place on July 19 at the New Jersey Stadium in New York, USA.

This marks the first time a halftime show will be held during a FIFA World Cup final. BTS will share the stage as co-headliners alongside pop stars Madonna and Shakira.

Through their agency, Big Hit Music, BTS shared their thoughts: "It is a great honor to stand on such a meaningful stage that brings the whole world together. We believe that music is a universal language that conveys hope and unity. It is even more meaningful to share that message with global viewers through this World Cup and to contribute to expanding educational opportunities for children."

Fans are paying even closer attention because, just a month ago, BTS personally mentioned their dream of performing at a Super Bowl halftime show in an interview with Rolling Stone.

In the interview released last April, J-HOPE described the Super Bowl halftime show as "a dream stage for any artist," while JIN expressed his anticipation by saying, "I often imagine what kind of performance we could put on." In particular, RM emphasized, "Someday, we want to create a stage in our own way. As time passes and people's perceptions change, and with Korean culture gaining global attention like 'Parasite,' if the opportunity arises, we would definitely love to do it."

JUNGKOOK also has a deep connection with the World Cup. He sang 'Dreamers,' an official soundtrack for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, and performed at the opening ceremony, becoming the first Asian solo artist to do so. At the time, the video of JUNGKOOK's live World Cup performance surpassed 200 million views.

Additionally, it was previously noted that there had been discussions about JUNGKOOK potentially joining U.S. pop star Usher for a Super Bowl halftime show before his military enlistment, though the plans reportedly fell through due to scheduling conflicts, leaving many fans disappointed.

This World Cup halftime show is curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay and produced by the international advocacy organization Global Citizen. The performance is part of the 'FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund' campaign and aims to carry a message about expanding access to education and sports for children worldwide.

BTS recently released their 6th studio album 'ARIRANG' and is currently on their 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG''. They are scheduled to perform at Stanford Stadium in the U.S. on May 17 – 18 and 20. As the first Korean artist to hold a solo concert at this venue, they are poised to set yet another record.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)