Singer Lee Jae took the stage at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America and brought the house down with the tournament anthem 'DNA'.
The 2026 North and Central America World Cup kicked off in Mexico City on the 12th, signaling the start of football’s biggest spectacle. For the first time in history, three nations (Mexico, Canada, and the United States) are co-hosting, with the field expanded to 48 teams. Group A’s first-round matches run from today through July 20.
The opening ceremony felt like a full-on concert, featuring top artists from Mexico as well as Venezuela, Colombia, South Africa, and more. In a standout moment, Lee Jae — known for the Netflix animated title K-Pop: Demon Hunters — and world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli performed this World Cup’s anthem 'DNA', electrifying the crowd.
In the song’s finale, Lee Jae drew attention by singing a self-penned Korean line: "Even if I fall again, I will rise again."
Blending multiple genres with Mexico’s traditional sounds, the ceremony delivered a powerful message of unity. As performers declared, "Soccer brings us together as one," fireworks erupted and the stadium roared.
Meanwhile, BLACKPINK’s Lisa will take the stage at the U.S. opening ceremony on the 13th, and BTS is slated to appear at the World Cup final halftime show.