ATEEZ's San Will Kick Off Lee Kang-in's Atletico Madrid Debut in Seoul

ATEEZ member San is heading to Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 9th for a ceremonial role that blends K-pop and football in a way that fans of both worlds will want to see. Coupang Play announced on the 7th that San will perform the honorary kick-off at the 2026 Coupang Play Series match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, a game that has already sold out every pre-sale ticket.

The timing adds real weight to San's appearance. The match is expected to be Lee Kang-in's first competitive outing in an Atletico Madrid shirt, wearing the number 7, and San will deliver a personal message of support for the footballer ahead of kick-off. It's a genuinely warm gesture, and coming from someone currently riding the viral wave of the 'BAD' challenge on social media, San brings recognizable energy to a stadium moment that already had plenty of anticipation behind it.

Girl group Licnos will take the stage for a halftime performance, giving the event a fuller concert atmosphere alongside the football. Both San and Licnos are also giving back to fans in attendance: San will hand out ATEEZ hand-signed CDs, while Licnos will distribute their own signed CDs to lucky attendees on the day.

The giveaway lineup doesn't stop there. Organizers have prepared a signed Atletico Madrid jersey bearing Lee Kang-in's name, along with signed jerseys and signed balls from players across both the Atletico Madrid and Manchester City squads. For fans collecting both K-pop and football memorabilia, it's a difficult combination to pass up.

With the second match of the 2026 Coupang Play Series already sold out in pre-sales, interest around Lee Kang-in's debut in red-and-white stripes is running high. San's involvement turns what was already a landmark football occasion into something a little broader, the kind of crossover moment that feels increasingly natural as Korean cultural figures continue to move across different entertainment spaces.