Guadalajara, Mexico, en.SERU.co.id — aespa’s Karina and Winter were in the stands cheering for South Korea as they took on the Czech Republic in their Group A opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (11/6/2026). The two joined the Coca-Cola Cheering Expedition Team to support the national side at Estadio Akron.
According to Korea Herald, Karina, Winter, and singer Kwon Eun-bi flew out from Incheon International Airport on June 10 (Korean time) to support the Group A match which took place on June 11-12 local time.
At the stadium, both members wore matching red Korea national team jerseys and kept the look casual and sporty. They were seen waving the Taegeukgi flag and getting into the match atmosphere, which quickly drew plenty of attention online. Many fans called their appearance striking, with several dubbing Karina a “World Cup fairy.”
However, Karina’s appearance also sparked a divided reaction among netizens. Some fans praised her ethereal visuals, while others lamented her sudden hairstyle with bangs, which they deemed less than optimal.
Karina later addressed the change directly with fans quoted from Koreaboo and Instiz. She wrote:
“Due to my allergy issue, I’m going to come wearing my bangs.”
In photos from the airport departure, she was seen pointing at her face and frowning while talking to reporters. She explained that a sudden allergic reaction caused swelling on her face right before the flight, and she felt self-conscious about it.
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Despite the discomfort, she pushed through and still showed up ready to support the team. South Korea went on to win the match 2-1.
Karina serves as a Sprite ambassador while Winter represents Toreta (both under the Coca-Cola umbrella) which is why they were picked for the cheering duties. Their presence has been one of the bigger K-pop moments of the tournament so far, blending sports and entertainment in typical fashion.
*(Sources: Korea Herald, Koreaboo, Star News Korea, and direct fan community translations of Karina’s message)
