K-pop giant Hybe is wading into the world of professional soccer.
The Korean entertainment company is teaming up with the Los Angeles Football Club to sponsor the first Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoff home game, taking place at L.A.’s BMO Stadium on Oct. 29. The move marks Hybe’s first collaboration with MLS, saying it is a “celebration of the strong ties between L.A. and South Korea and the Korean influences that define L.A.’s cultural identity,” according to a release.
The entertainment company and LAFC is set to host fan activations during the playoff match at BMO Stadium to bring “the essence of K-pop” with Korean-inspired food. It will also feature a light show set to songs by Hybe artists; the company’s roster includes BTS, Seventeen, Le Sserafim, Enhypen, Katseye and many more popular K-pop artists.
“Music and sport have the power to transcend borders and language, and LAFC has created new bridges between South Korea, the U.S. and the world,” Hybe chairman Bang Si-Hyuk said in a statement. “Los Angeles’ tremendous diversity and rich heritage of Korean culture made LAFC the perfect partner for Hybe’s first MLS collaboration, and we could not be more excited to strengthen our bond with fans in L.A.”
Hybe’s relationship with MLS might be new, but the team’s L.A. stadium is certainly not new to many Hybe artists. Seventeen, Enhypen, J-Hope of BTS and Tomorrow X Together are among some of the acts that have held concerts at the stadium this year.
LAFC co-president Larry Freedman adds, “We’re honored to be chosen as Hybe’s first Major League Soccer partner. At LAFC, we know the power of passionate fan culture, and Hybe shares that same energy and commitment. Together we will create an unforgettable experience at BMO Stadium that highlights the energy of K-pop and the inclusivity of our club and city, while showcasing the global spirit that defines Hybe and LAFC.”
LAFC, the third-seeded team in the Western Conference, is set to face off against Austin FC, the sixth-seeded team, for the Hybe-sponsored game that will be the first of three in the series.
HiCelebNews online magazine publishes interesting content every day in the music section of the entertainment category. Follow us to read the latest news.
