Trudeau faces backlash for skipping Canada's World Cup opener to attend US game with Perry

Backlash over Trudeau's absence from Canada's opener

Canada played to a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday evening at BMO Field in Toronto, with former prime minister Justin Trudeau nowhere to be seen. Instead, he was in Los Angeles watching the United States defeat Paraguay 4-1, where his girlfriend, pop star Katy Perry, had just performed the opening ceremony. The optics were not lost on Canadians: social media erupted with accusations of betrayal. One X user from Toronto described the decision as "a slap in the face of this country. Tasteless is putting it mildly." Others called Trudeau a "traitor" and "impostor" as clips of him and Perry drinking beer and kissing in the stands circulated online. The game in Toronto started at 22:00 local time, while the Los Angeles match kicked off at 04:00, giving Trudeau a stark choice between two simultaneous World Cup moments.

Trudeau responds citing 'boyfriend duties'

Early Sunday morning, Trudeau addressed the criticism with a light-hearted post on X.

“Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I'm rooting for to take the Cup.”

He added an emoji of the Canadian flag, a gesture that did little to calm the storm. Commenters continued to argue that a former head of government should have prioritised national pride over a personal relationship, especially with the country hosting part of the tournament.

Opening ceremonies on both sides of the border

Perry’s set at SoFi Stadium featured the little-known ballad "Wonder" from her 2024 album "143", a choice she told People magazine "fits my style really well." The Los Angeles ceremony also included performances by South African singer Tyla, rapper Future, Brazilian star Anitta, and Blackpink’s Lisa. Meanwhile, Canada’s own opening ceremony in Toronto showcased homegrown talent Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette. Cameras caught Perry rushing from the stage to greet Trudeau with a kiss, a moment that quickly went viral.

Relationship timeline and backgrounds

Trudeau and Perry were first romantically linked in July 2025 and confirmed their relationship publicly in December of that year. The former prime minister was married to TV host Sophie Grégoire Trudeau for 18 years until the couple announced their separation in 2023; they have three children. Perry was previously married to English comedian Russell Brand from 2010 to 2012, and was later engaged to actor Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares a daughter. The pair announced their split in July 2025, just before Perry’s relationship with Trudeau began.