In brief
On June 12, 2026, Justin Trudeau chose to tune into the U.S. match featuring Katy Perry instead of watching Canada face Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision triggered backlash from fans and politicians, who accused him of prioritising personal drama over national duty. While Trudeau expressed support for his girlfriend’s performance, critics decried it as a betrayal of Canadian pride. The incident has become a hot topic online, sparking memes, tweets and headlines worldwide.
Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didn’t attend Canada’s opening match in Toronto to watch U.S. star Katy Perry perform in Los Angeles – a move that sparked a fire‑storm on social media.
"Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup," he posted, adding a Canadian flag emoji.
The opening matches in Toronto and Los Angeles took place just hours apart – Toronto’s 15:00 EDT kickoff vs Bosnia HR and Los Angeles’s 21:00 EDT USA vs Paraguay. While Canada drew 1‑1, the U.S. came out on top 4‑1 and Perry opened the game with a new ballad from her 2024 album.
Clips showed the pair cheering each other on and sharing a beer in the stands, but many Canadians were outraged. One user slammed the decision as “a slap in the face of this country,” while others called Trudeau a “traitor” and a “fraud.”
Trudeau and Perry have been publicly linked since July 2025, confirming the relationship in December. The former PM left his 18‑year marriage to TV host Sophie Grégoire in 2023, and Perry was previously married to comedian Russell Brand.
