On November 21, 2025, BTS’ Jungkook recently made a surprising (but deserved) appearance in a new FIFA promotional picture. Posted as part of the promotions for the 2026 World Cup, fans immediately zoomed in to get a clearer view of the K-pop superstar. The BTS member was placed alongside legends and national soccer stars with a picture from his iconic Dreamers performance from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. And the most exciting part? He’s the only non-athlete in the lineup.
But this poster was not free of controversy! Its timing raised eyebrows because it was actually the third version FIFA uploaded after the global Ronaldo and Messi fandom clash set the internet on fire. The buzz started when FIFA’s first poster included Messi but left out Ronaldo, instead placing Bruno Fernandes as Portugal’s representative. Then, FIFA tried a second attempt by adding Ronaldo and removing Messi, amplifying the controversy. Finally, in an attempt to stop the fandom war, a new themed collage centered on the 2022 Qatar tournament was released.
Jungkook’s unexpected appearance also reflects the star power he has carried into his post-military comeback. After being discharged in June of 2025, he returned to fans through Weverse livestreams and made his first public appearance that September at New York Fashion Week for Calvin Klein. Now he is working with the BTS members on their Spring 2026 comeback, reportedly a full-length album with a 65-date world tour.