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Boyfriend duties at World Cup
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended skipping Canada’s opening World Cup match in Toronto to watch the United States play Paraguay in Los Angeles after his girlfriend, pop star Katy Perry, performed at the tournament’s opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium.
““Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup,””
Trudeau wrote on X, “Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call,” and added, “But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup,” alongside a Canadian flag emoji.
The U.S. beat Paraguay 4-1 in a match that began six hours later, while Canada tied 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto earlier in the day.
The New York Times said Trudeau was in attendance for the U.S.’s game against Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif. on Friday night, while he was not there to watch Canada’s 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto earlier in the day.
Backlash and online reactions
Canadian fans voiced outrage after Trudeau was shown on broadcast footage in Los Angeles rather than Toronto, and the Toronto Star reported that “Trudeau had a chance to attend the first ever match in his home country of Canada, and instead chose the United States? Clown.”
The Toronto Star also quoted another user’s reaction, writing that Trudeau “is not Canada down,” referencing Canadian performer Tate McRae’s viral response to backlash over starring in a Team USA ad for the Winter Olympics.
Metro.co.uk said Trudeau was criticized for skipping his country’s first game in the international tournament hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, and it framed his defense as “boyfriend duties.”
The Independent reported Trudeau responded to the backlash on X by stating it was due to “supportive boyfriend duties,” while CTV News described the controversy as following Trudeau to Los Angeles.
What comes next for Canada
Trudeau’s decision came as Canada, the U.S. and Mexico co-host the World Cup, and the Toronto Star said the tournament “runs through to July 19 at host stadiums in Toronto and Vancouver, Mexico and the U.S.”
“runs through to July 19 at host stadiums in Toronto and Vancouver, Mexico and the U.S”
New York Post said Trudeau will have “at least two more chances to watch Canada in the World Cup” if he chooses, as the Maple Leafs will be facing both Qatar and Switzerland in Vancouver.
The New York Times described Trudeau’s post as insisting that his priorities to his relationship “doesn’t lessen his loyalties nor support of his countrymen,” after he responded on X to the New York Times’ story.
In the same coverage, the New York Times noted Canada’s game kicked off in Toronto at 3 p.m. ET while the United States’ game started at 9 p.m. ET, setting the timing for the criticism that followed.
