Lisa of BLACKPINK has made history as the first female K-pop artist to perform at the FIFA World Cup, sharing the global stage with Brazilian singer Anitta and Nigerian artist Rema during the tournament’s opening ceremony.
Wearing a matching all-white, sleek outfit with her co-performers, Lisa captivated the audience at SoFi Stadium with her performance of “Goals,” a track from FIFA’s official album.
Her stable vocals, impressive stage presence, and skilled dancing received praise across multiple platforms, making her the No. 1 trending topic on X worldwide, China’s Weibo, and South Korea’s Meon.
Goals ‘not fit for World Cup’
Despite the song “Goals” gaining streaming traction and viral visibility, many criticized its lyrics for being “too sexy” and “not suitable for the World Cup.”
One user on X wrote, “It is a good song, but not for the World Cup,” while another commented that the track felt more like a song made to trend on TikTok, a widely used social media platform known for viral short-form content.
Some defended the track, arguing that its modern style and global collaboration reflect the World Cup’s evolving and increasingly diverse musical direction.
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World Cup brings unity
Ahead of the performance, Lisa expressed excitement about joining the prestigious tournament stage, saying, “I am really excited to participate in this year’s FIFA World Cup official album.
“It was an honor to work with Anitta and Rema because music always unites people around the world.”
Anitta and Rema also echoed this view, sharing how the event serves as a platform for cultural exchange and global unity through music.
“Three continents, one track… bringing our sound together like this is a major moment for music on the world stage,” Rema said in an interview.
Excitement continues
Following Lisa’s performance, another K-pop act is set to take the World Cup stage, with BTS scheduled to perform during the final halftime show on July 19 alongside global icons Madonna and Shakira.
Fans have already begun anticipating the performance, noting that this will mark BTS’s first-ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup halftime show.
Many also recalled Jungkook’s widely praised solo performance at the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony, which showcased his strong vocals and stage presence, further heightening expectations for the group’s debut on the FIFA stage.
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Eleni Poulios 
Rosemarie Zamora