Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau found himself at the center of a lighthearted cross-border debate after he was spotted cheering from the stands during the United States' opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup instead of attending Canada's first game of the tournament.
Trudeau was in attendance at SoFi Stadium, officially known as Los Angeles Stadium, during the World Cup, on Friday night, June 12 as the United States cruised to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay. Cameras caught the 54-year-old sitting alongside his girlfriend, American pop star Katy Perry, who had performed during the tournament's opening ceremony before kickoff.
His appearance quickly started online chatter, particularly because Canada's own World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina had taken place just hours earlier in Toronto, ending in a 1-1 draw. With many social media users jokingly questioned whether Trudeau had traded his allegiance for his girlfriend's home country. But the former prime minister was quick to set the record straight.
