Immediately following the release of ‘Goals,’ a track from the official 2026 North American World Cup album, BTS Jung Kook’s ‘Dreamers,’ released four years ago, is experiencing a significant resurgence. Dissatisfied fans of the new ‘Goals’ song are flocking to the ‘Dreamers’ music video, causing the YouTube comment section to be flooded in real-time with new messages from across the globe in dozens of languages.
‘Goals,’ featuring BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Brazil’s Anitta, and Nigeria’s Rema, launched impressively, surpassing 2.9 million YouTube views within 15 hours of its release on the 21st (local time). The song is a vibrant fusion of Latin pop, K-pop, and Afrobeats rhythms, characterized by its energetic beat embodying the spirit of the World Cup.
However, ‘Goals’ quickly faced criticism for its “lightweight lyrics that don’t align with the World Cup spirit.” Fans pointed out that the content, focusing on appearance, fashion, and self-confidence, such as Lisa’s lines “My body/ my fit/ My friends/ my whip/ Bet I’m goals,” was “far removed from the message of hope, unity, and dreams expected of a World Cup anthem.” User @Paltaconarroz96 commented, “I’ve never missed a World Cup, and this is the worst song yet. ‘Dreamers’ was truly the perfect song,” drawing a direct comparison.
As of the 22nd, Jung Kook’s ‘Dreamers’ music video boasts an impressive 447.34 million YouTube views, 6.3 million likes, and 300,000 comments. User @rize07addict on X (formerly Twitter) reported, “Hourly views for the Dreamers MV are skyrocketing. A large number of football fans and the general public, disappointed with ‘Goals,’ are returning here,” with the tweet surpassing 116,000 views on its posting day.
The YouTube comment section is filled with comparative reactions. @xuzun stated, “A World Cup song should be about unity, dreams, and solidarity, but ‘Goals’ is not.” Meanwhile, @Dina-w6w highly praised, “A World Cup anthem should be about unity, passion, and beautiful football. ‘Dreamers’ remains unparalleled.”
A comment from @kooksmoonlight.220, “All of us who came here after listening to the new World Cup song,” garnered 8,200 likes and 134 replies. User @alyaalya3545 added, “I’m not a K-pop fan, but I admit it. This is one of the best FIFA songs ever” (642 likes).
@Dani_Iuliana expressed anticipation, saying, “I hope BTS performs ‘Dreamers’ at the halftime show. Imagine hearing that song with the full group on the World Cup stage!” Another fan encouraged streaming, with @WeStreamBTS7 appealing, “Let’s aim for 500 million views and 7 million likes.”
‘Dreamers,’ performed by Jung Kook alongside Saudi artist Fahad Al Kubaisi at the opening ceremony, captured the emotion of the 2022 Qatar World Cup with its powerful message of hope, dreams, and solidarity. Furthermore, BTS is scheduled for a full-group performance at the 2026 World Cup final halftime show.
