BTS delivered their signature high energy style at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show on Sunday, July 19, performing their hugely successful 2020 single “Dynamite.”
Appearing as the second headline act at New York New Jersey Stadium, formerly known as MetLife Stadium, the South Korean group entered the field in matching red, white and black outfits. Their song choice had been kept secret before the event, and they selected “Dynamite,” their first single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track remained at the top for three weeks in 2020, making it a fitting choice for their performance on a worldwide stage inside an American stadium.
BTS took over after Madonna, with Justin Bieber performing next, followed by Shakira and Burna Boy singing the 2026 World Cup anthem “Dai Dai,” which topped the Global 200. All four headline acts later returned for “We Dance,” a new song created by Coldplay specifically for the event. Chris Martin and his band performed the finale alongside New York’s PS22 Chorus and the Muppets.
Global Citizen produced the halftime show, while Martin handled the creative direction. The lineup also featured conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Bijan Mortazavi and Emmanuel Kelly. Soccer legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho made surprise appearances, along with Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt portraying Ted Lasso and Coach Beard.
“We set out with a bold ambition: to bring together the world’s greatest artists for what would be the most-watched halftime show in history,” said Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen. “I hope audiences around the world were massively entertained and inspired, and I hope they felt the message of unity and love at its core. Above all else, I hope millions of kids around the world receive access to education for years to come. I look forward to meeting a young person years from now whose life was transformed because the world came together to invest in the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.”
By Sunday, donations to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund had exceeded $60 million, with the money supporting education for children around the globe.
BTS are currently performing on their ARIRANG World Tour, which continues next month at the same venue where they appeared during Sunday’s halftime show. The group will return to MetLife Stadium for concerts on Aug. 1 and 2.
