One X user from Toronto called it a “a slap in the face of this country. Distasteful doesn’t begin to cover it”.
Others called Trudeau a “traitor” and a “fraud” as clips began to go viral on social media.
The former PM missed Canada’s 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, which started at 15:00pm EDT on Friday.
Instead, he watched the USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles, with kick off at 21:00 EDT.
Perry helped open the first World Cup game in the US with a rendition of the little-known song Wonder from her 2024 album 143.
She had teased deciding against performing one of the hits in her rather lengthy catalogue of chart-toppers – from California Girls and Teenage Dream to Firework and ET – before the performance, telling People Magazine that she chose the relatively unknown ballad because “it’s very fitting for the ceremonial song that I get to sing”.
Trudeau and Perry have been publicly linked since July 2025. They officially confirmed their relationship with an Instagram post in December.
Trudeau was married for 18 years to TV host Sophie Grégoire, but they announced their split in 2023. They have three children. Perry was married to English comedian Russell Brand from 2010-12.
