BTS take credit for England football win in first UK show since 2019

BTS jokingly took credit for England’s 3-2 World Cup victory over Mexico in the early hours on Monday, as they played their first UK show in seven years at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“Congrats on the win last night,” said band leader RM. “We always bring the luck to every place we play.

“When we played in Belgium, Belgium won. Now that we’re in London, Britain won. You see?”

The pop group also apologised to their British fans for the long gap between shows. They last played in 2019, when they became the first South Korean act to headline Wembley Stadium.

They were due to return in 2020, before Covid forced them to cancel the massive Map of the Soul tour.

All seven members then had to complete compulsory military service in South Korea, putting the band on hiatus for three years.

“There was Covid, there was military, and now we’re here in 2026 together,” said RM. “I missed you so much, and thank you for all coming.”

Suga also thanked fans for their patience. “I’m still feeling the emotion I felt seven or eight years ago,” he said. “I don’t think you guys have changed. You’re still in a passionate country.”

Singer J-Hope added that it was an “honour” to be playing in the same stadium where South Korean captain Son “Sonny” Heung-min made his name.

The Spurs legend recently apologised for his country’s early World Cup exit after they failed to make it through from the group stage.

BTS attracted the venue’s largest-ever concert crowd, with 65,000 fans crammed into the stadium, waving light sticks and hand-made signs for their heroes.

“I’m 59 and BTS keeps me young forever,” read one. “I ran a half marathon listening to BTS,” said another.

“Namjoon for Prime Minister,” added a third, with a picture of RM superimposed on a British flag.

Jin returned the compliment by holding up a sign reading “BTS loves ARMY,” the band’s affectionate name for their fandom.

When BTS returned earlier this year, there were questions about whether they could recapture the momentum that made them the world’s biggest K-Pop band in the 2010s.

The seven members – RM, Jimin, V, Suga, Jungkook, Jin and J-Hope – had all released solo material, to varying degrees of success.

A Netflix documentary captured their nerves about coming back as a unit.

“I don’t have any real sense of what this album’s supposed to be,” said RM as recording sessions played out, arguing that “there’s a level of authenticity we need to have here”.

But they eventually pulled through. Their comback album, Arirang, is a celebration of their roots – named after a traditional Korean folk song, which is sampled in the opening track Body to Body.

Launched with the silky, catchy single Swim, the album charted at number one in 26 countries, and has already appeared on multiple best of 2026 lists.

The sold-out tour, which spans 88 dates in 23 countries, is predicted to rival Taylor Swift’s $2bn (£1.5bn) Eras tour at the box office.

At Tottenham, BTS brought the album’s themes to life. Before they arrived on stage, the audience heard the toll of the sacred bell of King Seongdeck, one of Korea’s revered cultural treasures, cast over 1,200 years ago.

The massive 360-degree stage, which featured four catwalks into the audience, was also inspired by Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace, while the stage floor incorporated visual elements inspired by the South Korean flag.

Taking place in much drier conditions than the first night in Goyang Stadium, the first London date is largely focused on the Arirang album, which harks back to the band’s hip-hop roots.

They burst into action with an explosion of pyrotechnics and fireworks with Hooligan, which showcased their trademark blend of honeyed harmonies and crisp rap verses.

Surrounded by 50 dancers, dressed head to toe in black, the opening set a high bar that was matched by the defiant Aliens and a gripping version of Run BTS.

The highlight was a medley of 2026’s FYA and the 2016’s Fire, during which fans jumped with such ferocity that I could literally feel the stands bounce under my feet.

The band responded to the energy, running up and down the catwalks and spraying water over fans (and each other) as the beats pounded down.

Swim also got a huge response in the stadium – Jimin even took out his earpiece during the first chorus to hear the fans’ screaming the words.

After the song, V told the fans, “Honestly, you should just join the tour with us”. The ensuing screams were so loud they could flatten an entire city.

Interestingly, BTS have reduced their focus on choreography on this tour, providing an opportunity to connect with the audience on a more individual level.

Their personalities shone during Butter, when Jungkook jumped onto Jin’s shoulders and got a piggyback around the stage.

Later, on Idol, the band walked the perimeter of the venue, stopping to pose for photos and wave to the faithful, as dancers waved giant flags.

That’s not to say they can’t break out the dance moves. 2.0 featured some of the sharpest choreography you’ll see in a stadium concert; and Dynamite saw the band freestyling Michael Jackson crotch-grabs and spinning on the floor.

The end of the show had a couple of surprise tracks, including the nostalgic Life Goes On, about staying connected during the Covid lockdowns; and Dionysus, a throwback to the opening song of their 2019 Wembley shows.

But they closed the night with the sentimental and optimistic Into The Sun; which felt like a promise the band won’t stay away so long in the future.

Fans, who’d come from Korea, the US and all over Europe to see the show said it was worth the wait.

“I’ve only been a fan since they were in the military, so I’m really excited to see them and confirm they’re real people,” one ARMY member told BBC Newsbeat.

“Everything about them transcends language and barriers,” added another. “There’s such a community around them.”

“They connect the whole world together.”