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Lee Jae performed 'DNA' alongside Andrea Bocelli at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony on the 11th (local time). / Yonhap

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world's largest sporting festival, has kicked off. This tournament marks the first time in World Cup history that Mexico, the United States, and Canada are co-hosting the event. With three host nations, opening ceremonies were held sequentially in each country, and K-pop resonated proudly across these global stages.

The first opening ceremony took place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, ahead of the match between Mexico and South Africa. Korean-American singer Lee Jae took to the stage. Lee Jae participated in the official 2026 World Cup anthem "DNA," released by FIFA, alongside Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The track, which also features David Guetta and Megan Thee Stallion, was performed live by Lee Jae at the venue.

Lee Jae performed the longest section of the song, delivering lyrics in Korean. In front of a packed stadium, the Korean language echoed as part of an official World Cup ceremony—a deeply meaningful moment for Lee Jae, who previously garnered global attention through the OST of the drama "KDHon."

The U.S. opening ceremony was held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Designed as a massive, Hollywood-style entertainment showcase, the stage blended pop, hip-hop, K-pop, Afrobeats, and Latin music. This aligned seamlessly with the American ceremony's theme of celebrating diverse immigrant communities and cultural pluralism. At the center of this showcase stood Lisa of BLACKPINK, who performed alongside Katy Perry, Anitta, and Rema.

The most anticipated K-pop-related track of this tournament is Lisa's "Goals." Released on May 21st, the track fuses Latin pop, K-pop, and Afrobeats, featuring multilingual lyrics and Afro-inspired percussion. Brazilian pop star Anitta and Nigerian singer Rema also participated in the song. Through this track, Lisa established herself not just as an opening ceremony performer, but as a primary artist of an official World Cup release.

K-pop's presence is set to continue all the way to the final match. For the final on July 19th at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, BTS will take the stage alongside Madonna and Shakira as co-headliners for the halftime show. This marks the first time a halftime show will be held at a World Cup final.

In this tournament, K-pop is not confined to a single moment. Lee Jae's Korean lyrics echoed at the Mexican opening ceremony, Lisa's performance took center stage at the U.S. opening ceremony, and BTS is billed for the final. K-pop has been strategically placed across the tournament's most critical milestones, from the opening to the finale.

This trajectory underscores how the global stage of the World Cup views K-pop. It is no longer a subculture restricted to specific regions or generations; it now plays a pivotal role in shaping the atmosphere of global sporting events through music and performance. The 2026 World Cup will remain a defining moment where K-pop once again solidified its presence at the absolute center of global pop culture.

                                                                                                               Lee Da-hye