On July 20 (KST), immediately after the first half between ѕραιи and Argentina ended in a 0-0 draw, BTS took the stage for the Halftime Show and set the stadium ablaze with their global smash нιт "Dynamite." The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers the moment the seven members appeared in striking red outfits. In particular, BTS cleverly modified parts of the original lyrics with football-themed lines such as "kick the ball" and "a game of football," delivering a one-of-a-kind performance while showcasing their remarkably powerful live vocals.
The New York Times (NYT) described the atmosphere, writing, "The stadium crowd responded with cheers that could hardly have been more exuberant." Meanwhile, Billboard showered the group with praise, stating that BTS energized the au∂ιєnce by choosing the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 нιт "Dynamite." The performance further cemented the group's unmatched status as one of the event's headlining artists alongside global superstars and pop legends including Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber.
Following the K-pop superstars' spectacular performance on the World Cup stage, BTS also received an outpouring of praise from football legends as well as celebrities from both кσяєα and around the world. Countless social media posts, comments, and interactions following the show quickly went viral, leaving ARMY immensely proud of their idols.
Among them, вяαzιℓian football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Nazário personally praised BTS immediately after the Halftime Show. One particularly heartwarming moment backstage showed j-hope respectfully bowing at a 90-degree angle as he accepted a congratulatory handshake from Ronaldo Nazário. The moment was widely praised by fans, who admired the idol's humility and respectful demeanor.
The interactions did not end there. j-hope and SUGA were also seen sharing a brief but cheerful conversation with Ronaldo Nazário as the three returned to the main stage together to close out the Halftime Show. Their bright smiles and friendly exchange between icons of music and football quickly became one of the most widely shared moments following the event.
Another detail that delighted fans was the reaction from Norway national team striker Erling Haaland. Haaland left a fire emoji under streamer Speed's post showing his encounter with BTS in the backstage hallway after the performance. Interestingly, Haaland is a footballer admired by both Jimin and j-hope, who have even recreated several of his signature moments from the 2026 World Cup during recent concerts and livestreams.
The international entertainment industry was just as enthusiastic in showing support for BTS. Singer Halsey shared a screenshot of her television while watching BTS's Halftime Show performance, accompanied by the short but excited caption: "THESE DIVAS." Meanwhile, renowned host Jimmy Fallon also posted a screenshot capturing BTS on stage while making a finger-heart gesture in the photo. Both Halsey and Jimmy Fallon have supported and collaborated with BTS on numerous occasions over the years, making their posts especially meaningful to fans.
Popular streamer Speed was equally excited. Just minutes after telling viewers during his livestream that he was eagerly looking forward to BTS's performance, he was seen dancing and singing along to "Dynamite" as the group appeared on the giant screens at MetLife Stadium. After the show, Speed also had the opportunity to meet BTS backstage, expressing the overwhelming excitement of a longtime fan—most memorably by celebrating with an acrobatic front flip.
Back in South кσяєα, many celebrities also quickly expressed their pride in BTS. Actress Jung Ho Yeon reposted V's Instagram Story showing the moment she escorted the FIFA World Cup trophy onto the field. In return, she also shared a video of BTS's World Cup performance on her own Instagram Story, tagging both V and BTS with the caption, "So so proud!!!!" Meanwhile, actress Lee Sung Kyung—one of SUGA's close friends—posted a screenshot of BTS's performance on her Instagram Story with the caption, "It's so cool," expressing her admiration for the group.
Finally, the reactions from fans around the world were impossible to ignore. One viral video captured a fan who had no idea BTS would be performing screaming at the top of their lungs when the group suddenly appeared on screen, startling their cat, which immediately panicked and ran away. The hilarious clip quickly became a widely shared meme across social media platforms. In many other reaction videos, fans could be seen screaming, "barking" along to "Dynamite," or simply yelling nonstop throughout the performance because they were overwhelmed with excitement.
