K-pop artists are once again making history by taking over the stage at the world’s biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup prepares to kick off next month, reports that major K-pop stars will headline both the opening ceremonies and the final match halftime show have captured the attention of music fans and football audiences worldwide.
First, Lisa of BLACKPINK is set to open the tournament on June 12 (local time). The upcoming World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will reportedly feature three separate opening ceremonies across the host nations. Lisa has been selected as the main performer for the ceremony taking place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The singer is expected to perform alongside global stars including Katy Perry, Future, and DJ Sanjoy. Following Jungkook becoming the first K-pop artist to perform at a World Cup opening ceremony during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Lisa is now expected to become the first female K-pop idol to appear at the opening ceremony of a World Cup hosted outside South Korea, marking another milestone for K-pop female solo artists.
Meanwhile, the tournament’s grand finale will reportedly belong to BTS. FIFA and international advocacy organization Global Citizen officially announced BTS as co-headliners for the World Cup Final halftime show, which will take place on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in the United States.
This year’s event will also mark the first time in World Cup history that a halftime show is held during the final match. BTS is expected to stand alongside global pop legends such as Madonna and Shakira as part of the historic inaugural performance.
The halftime show is reportedly being planned by Chris Martin of Coldplay. BTS is expected to deliver the group’s signature message of unity and hope to billions of viewers watching around the world.
The significance of K-pop artists dominating both of the World Cup’s most symbolic stages outside Korea has drawn particular attention. In the past, World Cup opening ceremonies and American-style halftime performances were traditionally dominated by Western mainstream pop stars. Lisa and BTS taking center stage highlights how K-pop has firmly established itself as a true global mainstream force.
As K-pop stars continue expanding beyond music to become influential cultural icons shaping worldwide trends, many fans are now watching closely to see just how far their global impact will continue to reach.
