BTS fans just might be the real winners of the 2026 World Cup, because j-hope has seemingly hinted that the boy band has a new song in the works for FIFA ahead of the group’s co-headlining halftime performance at the final game.
During a Weverse livestream on Wednesday (July 8), the South Korean performer read aloud one of the questions he received from ARMY in the chat. “Is BTS releasing any song for FIFA?” he said before making a playful expression.
“Hmmm,” he added teasingly, unable to stop himself from smirking.
“OH THT LIL SMILE HE HIDING SOMETHING,” one fan wrote on X in response to a clip of the moment, while another person said, “That face of his I know they are cooking something I just can’t prove it.”
Billboard has reached out to the band’s label and reps for comment.
The livestream comes on the same day FIFA announced that Justin Bieber would be joining BTS, Madonna and Shakira as an additional co-headliner of the World Cup Final Halftime Show, which is set to go down on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The exhibition will mark the first time the World Cup Final has instituted a halftime show of this scale, and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin curated the lineup.
The performances will also benefit FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which works to expand access to education and soccer for kids all over the world.
“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” Bieber said in a statement. “I’m grateful to be part of this halftime show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world.”
And though j-hope pointedly didn’t share anything more in response to the question about the new song — which, in theory, would join a 2026 FIFA soundtrack of other original tracks by Jelly Roll, 21 Savage, Latto, The Rolling Stones, Burna Boy and more — the star did emphasize how excited he is to perform during the match. “Yeah, can’t wait!” he said.
“The World Cup is really fun these days,” he continued, revealing that bandmate SUGA has been regularly updating the others on the scores on show nights, right up until they all have to go on stage to perform. “He had to tell us, ‘Egypt is beating Argentina with a score of 2-0! Hey, we turned the tables!’ It’s making me crazy.”
Plus, j-hope revealed who he’s rooting for as the World Cup Final draws closer: “Of course, I cheered for the Korean players so much. Personally, this time, Team Norway.”
BTS’ stop through Jersey will come amid the group’s ARIRANG World Tour, which supports Billboard 200-topping album ARIRANG. Conveniently, the members’ next tour shows after the World Cup Final will also be at MetLife on Aug. 1 and 2.
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