'Kede Hun' Lee Jae heads to the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony, Korean lyrics spark buzz

'Lee Jae', heading for the heart of the World Cup

A singer-songwriter who sparked a global sensation with the Netflix original animation 'K-pop Demon Hunters', 'Lee Jae' has now risen to become an icon of the world’s biggest sports festival with an audience of 8 billion people, the '2026 FIFA North and Central American World Cup'. Beyond the honor of an Academy Award, he is setting a new milestone for a Korean artist on the highest stage where sports and music intersect.

Meeting global pop legends, official theme song 'DNA' released at once

On the 11th, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) simultaneously unveiled worldwide, through its official channels, the official theme song 'DNA' that will run through this North and Central American World Cup. This project is more than a simple collaboration—it is a meeting across the ages. With a lineup built around legendary tenor 'Andrea Bocelli', EDM’s king 'David Guetta', and hip-hop’s top figure 'Megan Thee Stallion', 'Lee Jae' confidently took his place, proving K-pop’s firm global dominance.

For the first time in World Cup history, the heavy echo of 'Korean lyrics' to ring out worldwide

The most notable moment is 'Lee Jae'’s part, which crowns the song’s climax. The 'Korean lyrics'—"Even if I fall again, I rise again"—set the tone for the latter half of the track, delivering a powerful catharsis. This unusual move, which lays out a universal spirit of humanity and an unbreakable sports mindset in Korean, signals a decisive scene showing that K-pop, once on the margins, has now taken root as a key narrative in mainstream pop culture.

To Mexico City for the opening ceremony, duet tease with 'Andrea Bocelli' that spans the ages

The song-studio participation was only the opening act on a grand scale. According to FIFA’s official announcement, 'Lee Jae' will take the stage himself at the World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City. In particular, an all-star joint performance with classic and pop master 'Andrea Bocelli' has been tipped, drawing the tightest attention from music and soccer fans around the world. The world is watching closely to see what wondrous synergy their stage—crossing genres, generations, and borders—will unleash.