When Canada kicked off its FIFA World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina, many expected to see former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the stands supporting the national team.
Instead, Trudeau was nearly 2,000 kilometres away in Los Angeles, taking in the United States men’s national team’s opening match against Paraguay on Friday.
For some Canadian soccer fans, the choice raised eyebrows. At a time when relations between Canada and the United States remain under close public scrutiny, seeing a former Canadian prime minister cheering at an American World Cup match seemed unusual.
Had Trudeau chosen Team USA over Team Canada?
As it turns out, there was a much more personal — and relatable — explanation.
“Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call,” Trudeau wrote. “But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup.”
The 54-year-old former politician is currently in a high-profile relationship with American pop superstar Katy Perry, who performed her song “Wonder” ahead of the United States’ tournament opener.
The performance quickly became a viral sensation, generating more than four million views on YouTube. During the match, Trudeau and Perry were spotted together in a private suite, with cameras even catching Trudeau celebrating after a United States goal.
By all appearances, the couple was enjoying the occasion.
The Americans delivered a strong performance on the field as well, cruising to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their opening match.
Still, Trudeau’s attendance at the U.S. game instead of Canada’s opener sparked mixed reactions among Canadian soccer supporters. Some questioned whether he should have been in the stands backing Canada rather than its biggest on-field rival.
Whether Trudeau will make an appearance at one of Canada’s remaining group-stage matches remains to be seen. Canada is set to face Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24, with Vancouver expected to host plenty of passionate Canadian supporters hoping to see their team advance.
For now, however, Trudeau’s World Cup priorities appear to have been driven by a simple reality many people can understand: sometimes, supporting your partner comes first.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, Unifor, NEPMCC, and the Canada Freelance Union. Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
