EJAE performs “DNA” with Andrea Bocelli as Lisa opens World Cup stage and BTS heads to final halftime show
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and K-pop star EJAE perform the official FIFA World Cup anthem, “DNA” before the opening game of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Africa at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened with K-pop voices and performances woven into the tournament’s first major stages.
The tournament is the first World Cup jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. With three host countries, opening events were held across North America, placing global pop, Latin music, hip-hop, Afrobeats and K-pop at the center of the celebration.
The first opening ceremony took place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City before the match between Mexico and South Africa. Korean-American singer and songwriter EJAE performed “DNA,” the official FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem, with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
The anthem also features David Guetta and Megan Thee Stallion. EJAE performed Korean lyrics during the ceremony, including a line that translates as, “Even if I fall again, I rise again.” Video of the moment spread quickly online after the performance.
The sound of Korean lyrics on an official World Cup stage carried symbolic weight for EJAE, who has drawn global attention for her work connected to the soundtrack of “KPop Demon Hunters.”
The U.S. opening ceremony was scheduled for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles. The event was designed as a large-scale entertainment show reflecting American pop culture and the country’s diverse immigrant communities.
BLACKPINK member Lisa was among the performers, joining a lineup that included Katy Perry, Anitta and Rema. Her appearance highlighted K-pop’s continued expansion into major global sports and entertainment events.
One of the most closely watched K-pop-linked songs of the tournament is Lisa’s “Goals,” released May 21. The track combines Latin pop, K-pop and Afrobeats and features multilingual lyrics and percussion influenced by African rhythms. Brazilian singer Anitta and Nigerian singer Rema also joined the project.
Lisa’s role places her not only among the opening ceremony performers but also among the artists attached to the World Cup’s official music program.
K-pop’s presence is also expected to continue through the end of the tournament. BTS is scheduled to appear as a co-headliner at the final halftime show on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., alongside Madonna and Shakira.
It will be the first halftime show held during a World Cup final, giving the tournament a Super Bowl-style entertainment moment.
For K-pop, the 2026 World Cup is not limited to one performance. EJAE brought Korean lyrics to the Mexico opening ceremony. Lisa helped anchor the U.S. opening stage. BTS is set to appear during the final.
From the opening match to the championship stage, K-pop has been placed at key moments in the world’s largest soccer event.
The lineup reflects how global sports organizers increasingly view K-pop not as a regional trend but as a mainstream force in international entertainment. At the 2026 World Cup, K-pop is helping shape the sound and image of the tournament itself.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260612010004213
