A Ok-Pop star’s transient pre-match dance has grow to be one of the vital talked-about moments from a pleasant sport between Manchester Metropolis and Atlético Madrid.
ATEEZ member San drew a flood of reactions after performing choreography from the group’s single “BAD” earlier than taking the ceremonial kick-off. Nevertheless, his transient routine has uncovered a pointy divide between soccer followers baffled by the Ok-Pop spectacle and viewers who praised him for bringing his personal aptitude to the pitch.
ATEEZ member San has discovered himself on the middle of an surprising on-line storm after bringing some Ok-Pop aptitude to a high-profile soccer match.
The 27-year-old singer was invited to carry out the ceremonial kick-off forward of Manchester Metropolis’s pleasant in opposition to Atlético Madrid at Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 9. Earlier than taking his kick, San briefly carried out choreography from the hit music “BAD,” the lead single from ATEEZ’s “GOLDEN HOUR: Half.5,” which dropped in June.
The routine San carried out on the match seems within the music’s music video and has additionally been used within the group’s #BAD_Challenge clips throughout social media. ATEEZ first carried out “BAD” dwell at BST Hyde Park in London on June 28.
The choreography leans into the observe’s high-energy sound, which blends hyper-pop, hip-hop, home, dance, and Latin influences.
Atlético Madrid Embraces Its ‘Ok-Pop Period’
Atlético Madrid leaned into the viral second by sharing a clip of San’s dance on its English-language X account.
“We’ve formally entered our Ok-Pop period,” the membership wrote alongside the footage on August 11. The publish racked up greater than 1.3 million views and attracted a decidedly blended response.
One baffled viewer requested, “What are we watching proper now?” whereas one other dismissed the strikes as “garbage.”
Others have been significantly extra supportive. “Let’s go San,” one fan cheered, whereas one other argued the choreography merely works higher with a number of dancers earlier than including, “He did nice tho.”
ATEEZ followers additionally rallied behind the singer, with one declaring they have been “so proud” of him and praising his efficiency regardless of his packed schedule that day. One other thanked Atlético for inviting San and defended him in opposition to these branding the second “cringe.”
San Faces Racist And Homophobic Abuse
Nevertheless, among the criticism directed at San reportedly went far past jokes about his dancing.
Because the footage unfold amongst worldwide soccer accounts, racist, xenophobic, and homophobic remarks started showing alongside memes and criticism of the efficiency. Some feedback focused San’s Korean id, whereas others reportedly used homophobic insults in opposition to the singer.
The more and more hostile response prompted ATEEZ followers to push again, arguing that disliking or mocking the efficiency didn’t justify discriminatory assaults.
San Provides ‘BAD’ Dance One other Go With RESCENE
San later linked up with Minami and Liv of the South Korean woman group RESCENE for an additional dance efficiency, which generated a a lot hotter on-line response. RESCENE additionally shared content material from their encounter, playfully referring to the singer as “San Senior.”
Viewers have been significantly impressed by how effectively the youthful idols dealt with the harder-edged choreography. One fan praised Minami and Liv for dancing with “sharp precision,” whereas one other admitted they have been stunned by how effectively the pair captured the routine’s vibe.
San additionally earned plaudits for seemingly dialing again his personal efficiency to enrich his dance companions, with one viewer praising him for deliberately dancing “gently.”
The collaboration proved particularly satisfying for followers of each acts, with one celebrating the pairing and writing, “I’m so blissful to see each groups hovering.”
Ok-Pop Continues To Break New Floor
San’s soccer crossover marks the newest landmark for Ok-pop because the style continues to push deeper into audiences and areas far past its conventional base.
BTS took that growth to soccer’s greatest stage in July, performing through the first-ever halftime present at a FIFA World Cup last. The group shared the invoice with world heavyweights Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber through the Spain-Argentina showdown.
The style’s widening attain additionally reveals up within the numbers. Nielsen‘s 2026 “Crossover Impact” report discovered that 73% of viewers for Netflix’s “BTS: The Return” have been non-Asian. “Ok-Pop Demon Hunters” supplied one other hanging instance. The Netflix hit amassed 20.5 billion viewing minutes in 2025 and completed the 12 months because the No. 1 film amongst Hispanic, Asian, Black and White audiences.
