BTS hit the FIFA World Cup final halftime show on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium (officially known as MetLife Stadium). They performed “Dynamite” after Madonna and before Shakira took over her own segment. This was a huge moment for the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, and it’s still a major topic of argument. Chris Martin organized this 11-minute performance from Coldplay. Stars performed to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which works to provide better education for children around the world.
BTS delivered with sharp moves and vibrant visuals that fans exactly wanted. Their 2026 World Cup performance was an instant hit on social media, with many people saying they belonged on that massive stage.
BTS Changed The Lyrics For the World Cup
During their historic FIFA World Cup Final halftime show performance, BTS changed the lyrics of their iconic song “Dynamite” to fit the theme of the event. Jungkook kicked off the track by swapping “kick the drum” to “kick the ball,” while V playfully changed “a game of ping pong” to “a game of football.” Fans around the world loved these changes, which perfectly blended the tournament’s vibe into the global pop song.
Why Netizens are Criticizing BTS
Despite the wide reach of BTS’s FIFA World Cup halftime performance, the group received mixed reactions on social media platforms such as X and Reddit. People on platforms like X and Reddit were particularly harsh. Some critics mocked V for his English accent and said he struggled to pronounce his lines during “Dynamite.”
The concept of not being able to pronounce your own song's lyrics 😭 pic.twitter.com/NKz2GkfIwI
— blink bro ⚽🥅 (@blinkbro_4_ever) July 20, 2026
after wash dis wash dis, now ching chong wtf😭 pic.twitter.com/tld1At2MHc
— ✦ (@spicevillains) July 20, 2026
like just stop producing english songs if cant no ones forcing them lmao them larping to know english is funny
They should stop singing english songs cause really they cant prounce it clearly and correctly.
Jimin also faced a lot of negativity, with many people attacking his vocal performance and pitch during the high-pressure live broadcast.
Jimin only had two lines and couldn't keep his vocals in check.
— Hate Crave (@HateCrave) July 19, 2026
My mom said he has a smokers voice 😭
Sorry but let's be for real, Jimin totally botched his parts. He has no confidence whatsoever doing this, and everyone can hear it in his voice.
— 💜 (@VangTaenSYD) July 19, 2026
Kudos to the other 3 vocal line carrying the heavy load.
Taehyung singing a part of the song he never sang before! Adlibbing too! pic.twitter.com/LAftmWWRQS
Fans Praising The Performance
On the other side of the internet, fans around the world erupted with praise, celebrating BTS’s electric stage presence, high-energy choreography, and seamless live vocals on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages. Many ARMYs highlighted how the performance proved the group’s unrivaled star power, turning the World Cup halftime show into an unforgettable global pop spectacle.
BTS STAGE KING IS BACK!!
The stadium energy is insane, they literally set the field on fire
The boring game became more exciting after the performance of BTS and Shakira.
Amazing performance and beautiful energy! Choosing dynamite for a celebratory event that was created to bring people together and help kids was just perfect so so proud of bts
they DEVOURED! incredible performance
dynamite the hit that you are