K-Pop Fans Celebrate EXO’s and BTS’s FIFA Debuts… Sort Of…

While World Cup fans were celebrating France’s win over Croatia, K-Pop fans were celebrating a victory of their own.

 

On July 4, EXO‘s “Power” faced off against BTS‘s “FAKE LOVE” in an intense voting battle for the chance to be played during the World Cup finals.

Turn it up and feel the beat!

From the final four, which beat do you want heard inside the stadium? VOTE NOW! 🎶 #FIFAStadiumDJ

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 4, 2018

 

EXO narrowly won the poll on Twitter, while BTS won FIFA’s Instagram poll.

Turn it up and feel the beat!

From the final four, which beat do you want heard inside the stadium? VOTE NOW! 🎶 #FIFAStadiumDJ

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 4, 2018

 

Both groups were declared winners, after much ado.

Don’t Worry ARMY, BTS’s “FAKE LOVE” Will Also Be Played at FIFA World Cup 2018

 

This intense battle of the bands resulted in rising tensions between fandoms, as thousands of fans flooded FIFA’s polls.

Don’t act like ‘us’ is only army. It’s NOT. A lot of people from other fandom vote for bts too. Why so bitter just because exo won it. I’m so glad that I voted for exo and power really suited FIFA. imagine yall being so cocky if bts won it 🤷🏻‍♀️ https://t.co/PDw3nyQ4Ve

— Prdsdefmira (@prdsdefmira) July 6, 2018

armys: i can’t believe those fake armys voted for power😤😤 they’re not real fans they should only support bts

this is so sad, fifa play power by exo

— [17’s mari] #IamWHO (@mydaymari) July 6, 2018

ok this is the last thing i’m gonna say ab the bts/exo fifa shit!!! it wasn’t okay for other fandoms to team up to see bts lose but it’s also not okay to say multi armys aren’t armys!! i’m proud of both&love them w my whole heart!! thx 4 comin 2 my tedtalk

— krista (@boygrouptears) July 6, 2018

exol and army are fighting rn meanwhile some people made a petition for not playing kpop at fifa #exo #bts #EXOLxARMY #armyexol #FifaWorldCup2018 pic.twitter.com/EeFRgHPrVf

— keysha (@xx_keichu) July 7, 2018

 

In the end, all the stress and conflict was worth it…sort of. Fans had expected to hear “FAKE LOVE” and “Power” play during the final World Cup game. Instead, FIFA played both songs during a soundcheck, to an empty field. The footage was not aired on television.

OMG FAKE LOVE 😍 @BTS_twt #BTS #FAKELOVE #WorldCupFinal2018 #WorldCup #WorldCup2018 pic.twitter.com/4Os8X9wTON

— sieca (@findingARMYs) July 15, 2018

Power being played at FIFA World Cup stadium 👏#FIFAxEXOPower #EXO⁠ @weareoneEXO pic.twitter.com/iPNzZClnlQ

— mona (@mon4baek) July 15, 2018

 

Now, both EXO fans and BTS fans are wondering if they got played by FIFA. Some suspect that FIFA used the groups’ social media presence to stir up more excitement for the World Cup.

It wasnt on tv, this was just a Soundcheck an Hour before the Match and only lasted 15 seconds or so

— ringa ringa ring on mama (@for_life_9) July 15, 2018

Not to be that person, but I think fifa fooled us, army and exol, like, we trended two fucking ht WORLDWIDE and that's what we get, LMAO they needed the clout and we gave it to them with no doubts#FIFAWorldCup #FakeLove #BTS #power #EXO

— -lilmeowmeowenthusiast (@bangtanmyoon) July 15, 2018

They didnt play POWER.
FIFA just fooled us & you all get happy just bcs they played it in the empty stadium?

Wow, EXO-Ls congrats. You all worked hard & voted your asses off for a fucking soundcheck in the empty stadium. Can you all stop acting like everything is perfect? Thanks

— 'ㅅ' (@yeolspuppy) July 15, 2018

LMFAO fifa social media manager played us. they played fake love and p**** to an empty stadium. next time polls come around with us against other kpop fandoms i'll pass pic.twitter.com/psGXYTFk8f

— jade (@bighitprivilege) July 15, 2018

I'm still laughing how fandoms almost murdered each other because of the fifa poll just to get the songs played in an almost empty venue.. well played fifa well played 👏🏻👏🏻

— minion-gi (@blurryoon) July 15, 2018

That stadium is empty y’all. Only the press box has any people in it. FIFA is garbage but what’s new.

— Miche 💜 석진 (@MicheBangtan) July 15, 2018

The fifa social media manager made y’all attack each other over a poll for which song would get played at the world cup, only to say he’ll play both except he’s playing the songs while the stadium is empty??!? pic.twitter.com/FsFUkF5YWR

— ♥taeyong’s dulce coco♥ (@kpopdilemma) July 15, 2018

 

Although the timing was disappointing, fans still have reason to celebrate the groups’ FIFA milestone. The fact that “Power” and “FAKE LOVE” played at all at the World Cup, one of the world’s biggest sporting events, is a victory for EXO, BTS, and the K-Pop fandom as a whole.

the fact two kpop songs will be played in the fifa World Cup is a big milestone to kpop and especially a big big milestone for EXO and BTS !!! congrats !!

— [17’S PAT]✧･ﾟ (@squishyunie) July 10, 2018

congrats to exo, thats amazing wow

— millie (@almostjimin) July 15, 2018

So proud❤️

— Did you sEe mY BanGTan !?👑 (@MonacoColyne) July 16, 2018

Omg !!!!!!! So proud of @BTS_twt !!!😢😢😍😍😍❤❤❤❤ I love you all !!! #JiminWorldwideLoved #FakeLove #BTSARMY

— Amandine👽 (@Amandin41472287) July 15, 2018

 

Congrats to BTS and EXO!