Justin Trudeau’s comment after backlash for skipping Canada’s World Cup debut

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded to backlash for skipping his country’s World Cup debut to watch the US team play with his girlfriend, singer Katy Perry, instead.

Perry performed at the opening match, with Trudeau standing on the sidelines watching on.

Trudeau said he simply had to miss the game because “sometimes, supportive boyfriend duties call,” in a post to his X account.

“But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup,” he added, alongside a Canadian flag emoji.

The opening matches took place hours apart, with the US team playing in Los Angeles and the Canadian team playing in Toronto.

Following the Firework singer’s performance, she was spotted running to Trudeau and kissing him.

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During the match, the camera showed the pair watching the game from the stands, with Canadians online not very pleased with the former Prime Minister.

One social media user called him a “traitor” while others said it was a “slap in the face,” for the country. There were some supportive comments too, with users pointing out that Trudeau is now a private citizen who showed up for his partner.

The pair are just two of dozens of celebrities who attended the opening match, including David Beckham, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Bill Gates.

Just last week, Perry gushed about Trudeau, calling him the “love of her life,” whilst making their red carpet debut at the Premiere of her concert film, Lifetimes.

The pop star gushed over her relationship in front of fans as she provided insight into her life during her recent Lifetimes tour.

“I would say now, at the end of 91 shows, I feel like a more grounded person in so many aspects of my life. I am very in love,” Perry said.

The concert film, The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris, is a complete recording of her November 2025 show in the French capital, which came at a happy time for Perry.

“Actually, that show was after I met the love of my life, and so I felt very anchored by that,” she said.

“I’m a little bit like a rainbow kite – I fly super high. Sometimes I need to be anchored, so to have that anchor finally makes me feel really whole now.”

It was a great end to a year that was otherwise tough.

Before meeting Trudeau, Perry split from longtime fiancé Orlando Bloom after nine years together. They share five-year-old daughter Daisy.