At 4:00 a.m. KST on the 20th, ѕραιи and Argentina will face off in the FIFA World Cup Final at New York New Jersey Stadium in the United States. Led by head coach Luis de la Fuente, ѕραιи is aiming to lift the World Cup trophy for the first time in 16 years since its triumph in South Africa in 2010. Meanwhile, Lionel Scaloni's Argentina is looking to successfully defend its title and become only the third nation in World Cup history to win back-to-back championships. To date, only ιтαℓу (1934, 1938) and вяαzιℓ (1958, 1962) have achieved that feat.
Making this year's final even more spectacular is the star-studded lineup of global pop icons set to perform, including BTS (Bangtan Boys), Shakira, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, and Nicole Scherzinger. It also marks the first-ever Super Bowl-style Halftime Show in FIFA World Cup history. In addition, a series of large-scale celebratory events featuring Hollywood star Tom Cruise and world-famous YouTuber IShowSpeed will also take place.
However, it seems those are not the only highlights fans have to look forward to. On the 17th, a new report began circulating that sent excitement among fans soaring even higher: one BTS member is rumored to be the person who will escort the FIFA World Cup trophy onto the pitch. And the member at the center of these speculations is none other than j-hope!
The speculation began after multiple industry outlets officially reported that the FIFA World Cup trophy will be transported and presented in a special Louis Vuitton trunk created exclusively for the final. Around the same time, StanSport shared a video with the caption: "Louis Vuitton's handmade custom World Cup trophy trunk has been unveiled ahead of the final," offering a close-up look at the luxurious handcrafted trunk that will carry football's most prestigious trophy.
Meanwhile, several additional reports citing FIFA provided further details, stating that the World Cup trophy will be escorted onto the field by a Louis Vuitton ambαѕѕador alongside a FIFA Legend during the pre-match ceremony, continuing a tradition that has been in place since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
These details immediately led fans to speculate that j-hope, who currently serves as a Global Ambαѕѕador for Louis Vuitton, is highly likely to be the one chosen for the role!
Another striking coincidence is that on July 20, j-hope will already be at the World Cup Final alongside BTS as one of the headlining performers for the historic Halftime Show. The fact that he is not only appearing at one of the year's most anticipated musical events but also has a direct connection with Louis Vuitton has further strengthened fans' theories.
Across social media platforms, many ARMYs believe that if the speculation turns out to be true, it would mark a historic moment not only for j-hope but for K-pop as a whole. Some have even imagined the idol walking onto the pitch dressed in Louis Vuitton, carrying the iconic World Cup trophy alongside a FIFA Legend before billions of viewers around the world.
As of now, there has been no official confirmation, but that hasn't stopped fans' theories from reaching a fever pitch, including:
- Imagine our Sunshine on that global stage representing LV! Please let this happen
- Imagine him walking in with the trophy, and then the boys start singing while he just joins in right from the pitch, let me dream lol
- I have no doubt that members would be happy for him to be at the center of attention
- If j-hope gets to carry the World Cup trophy onto the pitch as Louis Vuitton's ambαѕѕador... that's genuinely one of the most iconic moments in K-pop history
- It actually makes perfect sense. He's a Global Ambαѕѕador for Louis Vuitton and he's already performing at the Halftime Show. The stars are literally aligning
- Imagine Hobi walking out with the World Cup trophy in a Louis Vuitton look before performing with BTS... I don't think I'm emotionally prepared for that
- The clues are honestly lining up a little too well. I'm trying not to get my hopes up
- j-hope representing Louis Vuitton at the biggest sporting event in the world...legendary
- From dancing on stage to possibly escorting the most prestigious trophy in football... Hobi just keeps making history wherever he goes
- The fact that so many people immediately thought of j-hope after hearing LV ambαѕѕador says everything
