Toronto: Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under heavy criticism after opting to travel to the United States to watch pop star Katy Perry perform at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony, rather than attending Canada's historic opening match in his home country.

According to Thai News Agency, the incident took place as Canada faced Bosnia and Herzegovina in its first match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, in Toronto. While notable Canadian celebrities like Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers were present to support the host nation, Trudeau was seen at the Zo-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles, where he watched the United States defeat Paraguay 4-1. Images surfaced of Trudeau and Perry enjoying the game from the VIP stands.

Katy Perry, who performed at the US opening ceremony, sang "Wonder" from her 2024 album "143" in a silver gown adorned with a brooch that combined the Canadian and American flags. This symbolized the cross-border relationship between the two nations. After her performance, Perry was seen running off stage to hug and kiss Trudeau, which was captured by cameras.

The situation quickly gained attention, with many Canadian netizens expressing outrage over Trudeau's decision to support the US match instead of Canada's, labeling it as a betrayal. Nevertheless, some defended Trudeau, noting that he stepped down as Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader in January 2025, thus becoming a private citizen entitled to personal choices.

Trudeau humorously addressed the backlash on his personal X platform, stating, "Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call," accompanied by a Canadian flag emoji to show his support for Canada. Trudeau and Perry, who began dating in July 2025, officially confirmed their relationship on Instagram in December of the same year. They recently made their public debut as a couple at the Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of Perry's concert film.