V gets a World Cup final stage as fans light up MetLife billboards
BTS's V joins the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final halftime show, with New Jersey ads celebrating his MetLife Stadium appearance.
V to take the stage for the first official halftime performance in World Cup history
BTS's V will perform at the halftime show of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final. FIFA has introduced a halftime show format modeled after the Super Bowl, a symbol of American professional sports. This marks the first official performance during a final in the 96-year history of the World Cup and will be broadcast live to the world.
The stage will feature BTS, Madonna, and Shakira as co-headliners, with Justin Bieber recently joining the guest lineup. V plans to travel to the United States to take the stage following his performances at the Stade de France in Paris, France (July 17–18), which serves as the final leg of his 'World Tour ARIRANG' European tour.
New Jersey outdoor advertisements capture fans' anticipation
The news of V's performance has sparked intense activity within the global fandom. Fandoms including VUnion, BaiduVBar, TaehyungTuesday, and Worldwide_KTH will broadcast celebratory videos on two large outdoor billboards near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, to celebrate V's performance.
The advertisements will run from July 14 to July 19 local time. Despite high demand for the final and expensive advertising costs, fans secured billboard locations in high-visibility areas for visitors. The advertisement includes the message 'TAEHYUNG, SEE YOU AT METLIFE!' to welcome those visiting the venue.
Global achievements of the 5th studio album 'ARIRANG'
BTS's 5th studio album, 'ARIRANG', is demonstrating a distinct presence in the global music market. According to the '2026 First Half Report' by the US entertainment data research firm Luminate, BTS occupied the top positions in both music release and physical album categories.
Approximately three months after its release, the 5th studio album 'ARIRANG' ranked 1st in both US Top 10 CD album sales and Top 10 vinyl album rankings, and reached 4th place on the US Top 10 album chart. The title track 'SWIM' surpassed 987,000,000 on-demand audio streams, ranking 6th on the global Top 10 songs list.
HYBE stated, "The achievements of our artists, including BTS's 'ARIRANG', are the result of the support from countless music fans and the collaboration of various partners. This report demonstrates that K-pop has become a vital pillar of the global music industry."
