K-pop is set to make history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Lisa opening the tournament and BTS closing it with a landmark halftime performance at the final. As one of the world’s biggest sporting events prepares to captivate billions of viewers, two of Korea’s biggest music acts are expected to showcase K-pop’s global influence on football’s grandest stage.
Lisa has been selected as a featured performer for the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The BLACKPINK star is scheduled to take the stage ahead of the United States vs. Paraguay match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12. She will reportedly perform alongside global pop superstar Katy Perry and Paraguayan singer Marilina Bogado.
The appearance is particularly significant because Lisa is set to become the first female K-pop group member ever to perform at a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.
World Cup opening ceremonies have traditionally featured artists who represent defining cultural moments of their era, making Lisa’s selection another major milestone in her rapidly expanding global career. Already established as one of the world’s most recognizable K-pop stars through her activities with BLACKPINK and her successful solo career, Lisa’s World Cup performance is expected to further solidify her international status.
While Lisa will launch the celebration, BTS is expected to deliver the tournament’s grand finale. The group is scheduled to perform at the FIFA World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The performance is especially notable because it will be part of the first-ever halftime show held during a FIFA World Cup final. BTS has reportedly been selected as a co-headliner alongside legendary pop icon Madonna, underscoring the group’s standing in the global music industry.
The announcement marks another major achievement for BTS as the group continues its full-group activities following the completion of all members’ military service.
The upcoming performance also carries symbolic significance for BTS. In 2022, member Jungkook made history by becoming the first Korean artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. His rendition of the official soundtrack song Dreamers at the Qatar World Cup generated worldwide attention and became one of the event’s most memorable musical moments. Four years later, Jungkook will return to the World Cup stage not as a solo performer but as part of BTS’s complete lineup.
Fans are already speculating about what kind of performance, production scale, and message the group will deliver during the historic halftime show.
With Lisa leading the opening ceremony and BTS closing the tournament at the final, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is poised to become a landmark moment for K-pop on the global stage.
The selection of two of Korea’s biggest music acts for the tournament’s most visible entertainment slots reflects the genre’s continued international growth and cultural influence. As billions of viewers tune in from around the world, Lisa and BTS will have the opportunity to showcase K-pop’s reach at one of the most-watched events in sports history.
From the tournament’s opening celebration to its final moments, K-pop is set to play a starring role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sources: Daum | 스포티비뉴스
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