- By Swati Singh
- Thu, 28 May 2026 11:20 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
BTS' FIFA 2026 World Cup controversy: BTS is all set to represent the Kpop industry at the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament's first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show at MetLife Stadium. The buildup to the event has sparked three distinct controversies across social media. While many fans were excited to see BTS, Shakira and Madonna headline the event, several football supporters criticized FIFA for adopting a Super Bowl-style entertainment format, saying it takes away from the sport’s traditional culture. Others also questioned why performers from the host countries — the US, Canada and Mexico — were not chosen.
A promotional poster shared by Forbes Middle East depicting BTS with the other headliners drew swift anger after fans noticed it was poorly AI-generated, featuring distorted faces, duplicated members and missing idols. The backlash prompted the publication to delete the post entirely.
Jungkook "Dreamers" Credit Dispute: Prior to the halftime show announcement, fans were already upset over BTS being credited alongside Jungkook on streaming platforms for his 2022 World Cup anthem, Dreamers. Fans accused the label of undermining his solo achievements by tagging the full group onto his solo milestones.
Recommended For You
Several fans pointed out that earlier promotional posts allegedly excluded certain members, while the now-deleted AI-generated poster further fueled criticism online. One fan wrote, "The media has been so weird about covering this news, first it’s excluding a member and then it’s using AI like how hard is it to find an actual photo with all 7 of them???"
ALSO READ: BTS, KATSEYE And Sombr Dominate 2026 AMAs; Check Complete Winners List
Amid the online debate, BTS is continuing its ARIRANG world tour across North America. The group is currently performing in Stanford before heading to Paradise, with additional concerts in South Korea scheduled later.
Despite the backlash over the promotional material, excitement around BTS’ FIFA appearance remains strong, with many fans believing the performance could become a historic moment for both music and football.