BTS to headline World Cup Final halftime show with Madonna, Shakira; Hybe shares jump 7.2%
The seven-member boy band will take the stage alongside Madonna and Shakira
FrankLin
A fan of Korean boy band BTS poses for a photo in front of a poster at Tokyo Dome before the start of the first BTS World Tour 'Arirang' in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. Tens of thousands of fans awaited excitedly outside the landmark Tokyo stadium to watch BTS in their first concert outside South Korea after the K-pop megastars kicked off their world tour. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)
Andrew Caballero-reynolds | Afp | Getty Images
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.
GOYANG, SOUTH KOREA - APRIL 09: Fans of K-pop boy band BTS wait in line for the BTS World Tour 'Arirang' at Goyang stadium on April 09, 2026 in Goyang, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Chung Sung-jun | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
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