"Rise Again"... World Cup Opened in Korean, EJAE to Lisa to BTS Highlight Global K-pop Power [Full Text]

[Sportschosun, Baek Ji-eun] Proud K-pop has even taken over the FIFA World Cup.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on the 12th with Mexico and South Africa facing off in the opening Group A match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico.

K-pop opened the World Cup. EJAE performed the official World Cup song, "DNA," with world-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli. The song blends classical, electronic and hip-hop elements, and includes Korean lyrics written by EJAE herself, such as "Even if I fall again, I rise again."

EJAE is a Korean American singer-songwriter who has worked with numerous K-pop artists, including Twice, Red Velvet and aespa. In 2025, she also took part in writing and composing the theme song for Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters." In particular, the main OST "Golden" topped the Billboard Hot 100, the main U.S. singles chart, and gained huge popularity. Thanks to that success, EJAE won the Best Original Song award at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards. She then became the one to open the World Cup. Among Korean artists performing at a World Cup opening ceremony overseas, EJAE is only the second to sing an official theme song. The first was BTS's Jung Kook, who performed the official song "Dreamers" at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

After the performance, EJAE shared her thoughts on her personal account, saying, "I can't believe what just happened. It was truly an honorable moment."

It is not just EJAE. This World Cup opens with K-pop and closes with K-pop.

At the U.S. opening match on the 13th at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Blackpink member Lisa will perform a celebratory stage with Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Rema and Tyla. Lisa will also sing the official anthem "Goals," which she recorded with Anitta and Rema, for the first time live. The track is a collaboration that blends Latin pop, Afrobeats and K-pop.

For the final halftime show on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York, New Jersey, BTS will take the stage. It will be the first halftime show ever held at a World Cup. Invited as a co-headliner, BTS will stand alongside global pop stars such as Madonna and Shakira.

The fact that K-pop stars will mark both the beginning and the end of the world's festival, the FIFA World Cup, is drawing strong attention and anticipation, as it is seen as a clear sign of K-pop's global standing.

Meanwhile, the South Korea national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will face the Czech Republic in its first Group A match at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. It will then play Mexico on the 19th and South Africa on the 25th in group-stage matches.

Baek Ji-eun silk781220@sportschosun.com