Justin Trudeau Faces Backlash for Attending US World Cup Match Over Canada's

Justin Trudeau has responded to online backlash after he was spotted watching the United States' opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with girlfriend and popstar Katy Perry instead of attending Canada's first game of the tournament.

The former Canadian prime minister became centre of controversey after cameras captured him in the stands at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday. The United States secured a 4-1 win over Paraguay that day.

Trudeau was seated alongside Perry, who had performed during the WC opening ceremony before kick-off. His appearance raised eyebrows among football fans, particularly because Canada's opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina had taken place just hours earlier in Toronto and ended in a 1-1 draw.

Questions about Justin loyalties began circulating online. But Trudeau addressed the issue with a light-hearted post on X. Reposting a New York Times article about his appearance at the World Cup, he wrote: "Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup" alongside a Canadian flag emoji.

He wanted to end speculation that he had abandoned team Canada in favour of supporting team US because of his American girlfriend. Trudeau attended the US match with Perry, but he made clear that his support for Canada's World Cup campaign remained unchanged.

However, the explanation did not completely silence people. Some X users questioned why Trudeau chose to attend the American team's opener in LA rather than Canada's match in Toronto.

The current row comes nearly a year after Trudeau's relationship with Perry became public. The pair first sparked dating rumours in July 2025 when they were photographed spending intimate time together in Montreal. They were seen walking through Mount Royal Park before dining at Le Violon, a popular restaurant in the city. Shortly afterwards, Trudeau was also spotted attending Perry's Lifetimes Tour concert in Montreal.

Both entered the relationship after the end of long-term partnerships. Trudeau and his ex-wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, announced their separation in August 2023 after 18 years of marriage. Perry and actor Orlando Bloom confirmed in July 2025 that they had shifted their relationship towards co-parenting their daughter, Daisy.

Rumours of a Trudeau-Perry romance continued throughout the summer of 2025 before gaining momentum later that year. In October, the pair were officially dating and that the relationship had become serious. They were later photographed together on a yacht embracing each other. By December 2025, Perry appeared to confirm the relationship on Instagram. The couple have continued to make public appearances together throughout 2026. Earlier this month, they attended the Tribeca Festival in New York, where they made their red carpet debut as a couple during the premiere of Perry's concert film, The Lifetimes Tour: Live from Paris.