Singer Lee Jae calls 2026 World Cup opening ceremony 'breathtaking moment'

Singer Lee Jae, who performed at the opening ceremony of the 2026 North America World Cup, described the experience as "breathtaking."

Lee took to her social media accounts on Friday (local time) to express her gratitude, writing that she was thankful to have been "invited to co-write, compose and perform" the official FIFA World Cup anthem "DNA."

"It was truly an honor to perform alongside legends like David Guetta, Megan Thee Stallion and Andrea Bocelli," she said, adding that "the most memorable and breathtaking moment was watching the entire world come together as one."

She also cheered, "Mexico City was absolutely beautiful. Let's go!"

Lee, who voices the lead character "Rumi" in the Netflix animated series "KPop Demon Hunters," performed "DNA" alongside Bocelli at the opening ceremony held in Mexico City on June 11.

The song features a Korean-language lyric — "Even if I fall again, I will rise once more" — which Lee wrote herself.

The blue outfit Lee wore at the opening ceremony also drew attention. The design evokes the silhouette of a hanbok — a traditional Korean garment — and features mother-of-pearl accents, earning praise for capturing Korean aesthetic sensibility.

The label behind the costume, Leju, said the 2026 North America World Cup is "the first in history to be co-hosted by three nations — Canada, Mexico and the United States — symbolizing the values of unity and participation." From the red, green and blue representing each host country, the designers chose blue as "the color most deeply connected to her (Lee's) life."

Leju said the lotus flower "has long been regarded in Korea as a symbol of peace and happiness." It added that, "like a lotus that retains its nobility and purity even through hardship, we layered up to 100 yards of fabric to express the rippling reflection of light on water, reinterpreting the graceful curves and abundant beauty of the hanbok through a modern silhouette."

홍명보 여론 뒤집히나…‘체코전 용병술’에 잇단 찬사

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