Justin Trudeau skips Toronto opener for Katy Perry game in Los Angeles — Justin Trudeau Katy Perry
Justin Trudeau Katy Perry became the night's headline after the former Canadian prime minister skipped Canada's first World Cup match in Toronto and turned up in Los Angeles for a USA game where Perry performed. The choice drew public criticism because Canada was opening its own World Cup run at the same time.
Canada played Bosnia and Herzegovina at 15:00 EDT on Friday and drew 1-1. Three hours later, Trudeau was in the stands for the USA-Paraguay match, which the United States won 4-1 with a 21:00 EDT kickoff.
Toronto at 15:00 EDT
Canada's opener came with its own ceremony in Toronto, where Alanis Morrisette and Michael Bublé performed. That made Trudeau's absence more visible, especially for Canadians watching the country's first match of the tournament rather than a celebrity appearance in another city.
Some Canadians reacted online after clips of Trudeau and Perry spread. One X user from Toronto called it "a slap in the face of this country. Distasteful doesn't begin to cover it" and other users called Trudeau a "traitor" and a "fraud".
Los Angeles at 21:00 EDT
Cameras caught Perry running off stage to greet Trudeau with a kiss, and televised clips showed them sipping beers and canoodling in the stands. Perry had told People Magazine before the performance, "it's very fitting for the ceremonial song that I get to sing," and the crowd saw that line turn into a very public entrance at a soccer match.
Trudeau answered the criticism on social media with, "Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I'm rooting for to take the Cup" and added a Canadian flag emoji. He chose to frame the trip as support rather than retreat, which is why the backlash landed so sharply for viewers who had expected him to prioritize the Toronto opener.
Public link since July 2025
Trudeau and Perry have been publicly linked since July 2025 and officially confirmed their relationship in December with an Instagram post. Trudeau was married for 18 years to Sophie Grégoire, and they announced their split in 2023; Perry was married to Russell Brand from 2010 to 2012. For readers tracking the fallout, the practical takeaway is simple: Trudeau has already said where he stands, and the reaction shows how easily a private relationship can become a public test of priorities when it collides with a national event.
