The seven-member boy band will take the stage alongside Madonna and Shakira
News that globally popular boy band BTS will headline the first ever halftime show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, performing alongside Madonna and Shakira, helped send shares of South Korea's largest K-pop agency Hybe soaring 7.2%.
The show announcement, made on the World Cup's Instagram account, helped Hybe gain 7.16%, or over 700 billion won ($470 million) in market value on Thursday.
BTS released new music in March, part of a comeback now that all their members have returned from South Korean military service, which is mandatory.The group's return was marked by a free concert in Seoul on March 21 that was livestreamed on Netflix, drawing 18.4 million viewers globally. It was No. 1 in 24 countries.
The septet also released their 10th studio album titled "Arirang," which became BTS' seventh consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
It reportedly sold 4 million copies on its first day alone, and topped album charts in 115 countries and regions around the world on Apple Music.
BTS is currently on an eponymous world tour which started on April 9 and will span 85 dates in 23 countries.
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