The FIFA World Cup 2026 clash between South Korea and Mexico on June 18 generated excitement not only among football fans but also within the BTS fandom. Ahead of the game, which took place at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, South Korean supporters reportedly received welcome gifts that included photocards of the group’s members and candies. Photos and videos of the giveaways quickly spread online, drawing attention from both football fans and ARMY.
In addition to the merchandise, ESPN shared clips of quizze organized for attending supporters of South Korean team. During the quizzes participants were shown photos and asked to identify South Korean football players and BTS members.
The BTS references became a major talking point on social media, especially as the group remained a prominent topic in Mexico in recent days. The country recently hosted the group’s ARIRANG World Tour that attracted significant fan participation. It made the group’s continuous presence around the World Cup festivities an unexpected but welcome surprise for many supporters.
As images from Guadalajara circulated online, fans expressed pride over BTS being included in activities designed to welcome South Korean visitors. Many noted how the group’s global popularity has helped introduce Korean culture to international audiences. One fan wrote:
“People just don’t get it, they really are the protagonists of Korea.”
Others described the inclusion of the septet in the fan experience as a reflection of the group’s cultural influence.
The discussions continued across social media platforms, with many ARMY celebrating the crossover between football and K-pop. Many fans viewed the BTS-themed activities as an opportunity to introduce the group to a different audience.
Weeks after BTS left Mexico, football fans are still chanting their name during FIFA World Cup festivities
The connection between BTS and Mexico continued to draw attention during the FIFA World Cup 2026, weeks after the group’s visit to the country for their ARIRANG world tour. In early May, the group met Mexican President at the National Palace in Mexico City ahead of their three-night concert run in the capital.
Following the meeting, the members appeared on the balcony overlooking the Zócalo, where thousands of fans had gathered to welcome them. According to reports, more than 50,000 people assembled outside the National Palace.
Fans filled the square with banners and messages of support as they waited for the group. BTS briefly greeted the crowd in both Spanish and English, receiving loud cheers from those in attendance. Although the appearance lasted only a few minutes, it became one of the most widely discussed moments of the group’s visit.
The enthusiasm continued throughout their sold-out concert series. Photos and videos shared online showed large numbers of fans gathering outside the venue during all three shows.
On the final night, reports indicated that more than 70,000 people remained outside the stadium, listening to the performance from beyond the gates while the concert inside was completely sold out. Combined attendance figures shared online suggested that the number of people around the venue exceeded 130,000.
Weeks later, as Guadalajara welcomed supporters for the FIFA World Cup, BTS unexpectedly remained part of the conversation. Several videos circulating on social media showed Mexican football fans chanting “BTS” when encountering South Korean supporters and media crews covering the tournament.
One widely shared clip showed Mexican fans interrupting a South Korean television broadcast near the Mexican national team’s hotel by repeatedly chanting the group’s name. Another video captured football supporters celebrating with a South Korean fan after a match while chanting the group’s name.
Elsewhere, attendees at the FIFA Fan Fest in Guadalajara were seen bringing a life-size cardboard cutout of to the event before Mexico’s match against South Korea. Another moment that attracted attention involved South Korean and Mexican supporters joining together to sing Arirang, a traditional Korean folk song, during the World Cup festivities.
The song was recently incorporated in the group’s’s latest’s album ARIRANG‘s song Body To Body. The scene was widely shared online as an example of cultural exchange between fans from the two countries and also the group’s influence. The interactions generated discussion across social media.
Edited by Adrija Chakraborty