Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced a wave of online criticism after he skipped Canada’s historic first World Cup match to attend a USA game in Los Angeles, where his girlfriend, pop superstar Katy Perry, performed at halftime.
Trudeau addressed the backlash on social media, writing: “Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup,” adding a Canadian flag emoji.
The two matches took place hours apart on Friday. Canada’s opening game — a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina — kicked off at 15:00 EDT in Toronto. The USA match against Paraguay, which the U.S. won 4-1, started at 21:00 EDT in Los Angeles.
Cameras captured Perry running off stage to greet Trudeau with a kiss. Throughout the game, televised clips showed the pair sipping beers and canoodling in the stands.
Online, some Canadians expressed displeasure. One X user from Toronto called it “a slap in the face of this country. Distasteful doesn’t begin to cover it,” according to BBC News. Others called Trudeau a “traitor” and a “fraud” as clips went viral on social media.
Perry helped open the first World Cup game in the U.S. with a rendition of the song “Wonder” from her 2024 album 143. She had told People Magazine she chose the relatively unknown ballad over her catalogue of chart-toppers — including “California Girls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” and “E.T.” — because “it’s very fitting for the ceremonial song that I get to sing.”
Trudeau and Perry have been publicly linked since July 2025. They officially confirmed their relationship with an Instagram post in December 2025. Trudeau was married for 18 years to TV host Sophie Grégoire; they announced their split in 2023 and have three children. Perry was married to English comedian Russell Brand from 2010 to 2012.