'Squid Game' star Jung Ho-yeon makes surprise appearance at World Cup final

Model and actress Jung Ho-yeon made a surprise appearance at the 2026 North American World Cup final, generating buzz as she presented the coveted trophy.

The event, held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, saw Jung Ho-yeon join Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz. Together, they unveiled the World Cup trophy, which was housed in a special Louis Vuitton trunk. Following their presentation, football legends Andrés Iniesta of Spain and Mario Kempes of Argentina, both instrumental in their countries' past World Cup victories, each held the trophy.

Jung Ho-yeon, who achieved international stardom with the Netflix series 'Squid Game' in 2021, is a global ambassador for Louis Vuitton. The luxury brand has a long-standing partnership with FIFA, creating the trophy trunk since the 2010 World Cup. Previous celebrities, including supermodel Gisele Bündchen, have participated in similar trophy reveal ceremonies.

Following her appearance, Jung Ho-yeon watched the match, which Spain won 1-0 against Argentina. She drew attention by wearing a jersey with 'HOPE 9.9' emblazoned on the back, a subtle promotion for her upcoming film 'Hope,' directed by Na Hong-jin, which is set to premiere in the United States on September 9. She also shared photos of the K-pop group BTS performing during the halftime show on her Instagram, expressing pride in their performance.