BTS star Jungkook is ready to hit the pitch for Qatar’s World Cup opening ceremony.
The Butter hitmaker is going ahead with his performance of new song Dreamers at the Al Bayt Stadium later on Sunday, kicking off the football tournament alongside several other artists including Robbie Williams although the full line-up is yet to be revealed.
Despite facing some criticism in light of Qatar’s human rights controversy, Jungkook’s performance is still set for this afternoon with the World Cup Twitter account teasing what’s to come.
They shared a short clip which features the K-pop star standing on top of a skyscraper with his back towards the camera. He then turns around and says: ‘See you at the opening,’ as a choir is heard singing.
Reacting to the teaser, one fan cheered: ‘Let’s go can’t wait,’ while another enthused: ‘I’m so proud of you.’
One other fan tweeted: ‘Looking forward it!! I can’t pit in words how much Im so excited!!!!!!
방탄소년단 ‘정국’이 2022 FIFA 카타르 월드컵 공식 사운드트랙과 월드컵 개막식 공연에 참여합니다. 많은 기대 부탁드립니다!
Proud to announce that Jung Kook is part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Soundtrack & will perform at the World Cup opening ceremony. Stay tuned!#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/MwJ2kdNRBp— BTS_official (@bts_bighit) November 12, 2022
However, Jungkook’s involvement in this year’s World Cup has also been met with backlash amid criticism of Qatar’s law against homosexuality and questions around its treatment of workers.
One critic wrote on Twitter: ‘Jungkook performing at the world cup in Qatar is the most hypocritical s**t I’ve ever seen. One day they’re at the UN advocating for Human Rights, the next days he’s in Qatar getting millions for a performance despite grave HR violations. So the UN stuff was just performative huh.’
Another said: ‘Okay I LOVE BTS but why does no one understand that we should not be like OMG JUNG KOOK SO PROUD but that we should be angry that BTS takes part in a World Cup everyone knows has violated human rights…promoting the World Cup in Qatar sucks, don‘t pretend like it doesn‘t.’
Jungkook isn’t the only star who has come under fire for taking part in the event, as comedian Joe Lycett is counting down the hours until he shreds £10,000 in cash unless David Beckham pulls out of being an ambassador for the Qatar World Cup.
Former Take That star Robbie, who is also set to perform, reportedly defended his decision to perform in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Venerdì di Repubblica.
He is quoted as saying: ‘Of course, I don’t condone any abuses of human rights anywhere.
‘But, that being said, if we’re not condoning human rights abuses anywhere, then it would be the shortest tour the world has ever known: I wouldn’t even be able to perform in my own kitchen.’
The Angels hitmaker added: ‘Anybody leaving messages saying “no to Qatar” are doing so on Chinese technology. It would be hypocritical of me to not go [to Qatar] because of the places that I do go to.’
– metro.co.uk
