Katy Perry’s – SoFi Stadium erupted with 70,000-plus fans for the USA’s World Cup opener against Paraguay — but the opening ceremony stole the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after Katy Perry performed only one song, ‘Wonder,’ in a low-key moment that drew heavy backlash
The night the USA opened the FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles came with the kind of star power most people expect from a world-stage event — Tom Cruise rubbing shoulders with David and Victoria Beckham. the Beckhams arriving from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. and the pregame build-up that usually promises something huge.
Then Katy Perry walked out to perform.
More than 70. 000 fans packed SoFi Stadium as the USMNT took the field against Paraguay. and many were looking to the California Gurls hitmaker to ignite the atmosphere. Instead, Perry delivered just one song: ‘Wonder,’ an album track described as being from two years ago. The performance came around 10 minutes before the game, and after that single number, she quickly departed the stage.
Fans weren’t the only ones left wanting more. The pop star bypassed crowd favorites such as ‘I Kissed A Girl’ and ‘Firework. ’ and the abrupt. low-key routine quickly turned into a spectacle of its own. Perry was joined by 10-year-old Tius Luka for the performance. and Luka received plaudits for his incredible vocals from those watching — even as online viewers complained that they never got the full show they came for.
As the ceremony played out, the spotlight for the match itself was already gathering elsewhere. Among the celebrities in attendance were Tom Cruise, spotted rubbing shoulders with the Beckhams, along with long-term friend Eva Longoria. The Beckhams had arrived at the stadium after Sir David Beckham received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The family hot-footed it to SoFi from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. joined by son Romeo. and his girlfriend model and DJ Kim Turnball. Brooklyn Beckham was not in attendance. despite the unveiling happening about 20 minutes from his estranged brother’s multimillion-dollar mansion in the Trousdale Estate.
Cruise watched the action with the Beckhams for the USA’s Group D opening game against Paraguay. After the match, the Beckhams were joined by two of their other children, Cruz and Harper, before heading out to dinner in Beverly Hills.
On the field, the evening couldn’t have gone better for the home side. The USA thrashed Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match.
The contrast between a dramatic ceremony and a smooth result didn’t stop the backlash. On X, fans rounded on Perry. One post called it “a train wreck of a performance” and said she “sounded terrible.” Others focused on the dress. with one mocking it as “hilarious dress” and jokes about her returning to astronaut days by dressing like a spaceship. Another fan wrote, “This sucks,” while another demanded: “Get this s*** out of here.”.
The build-up to the ceremony had already been complicated. Gates had opened at 2pm EST in Inglewood. and fans had lined up for hours to take their spots inside the arena. which is usually home to the NFL’s Rams and Chargers. The SoFi opening ceremony was the third of three at the World Cup. after each host country put on a show immediately before its first game.
In the lead-up to the ceremony at SoFi, there had been real uncertainty online. The social media meltdown began after the first performance ended and the stage was dismantled. leaving fans worried that Katy Perry had pulled out at late notice. The article notes that Perry did eventually take to the stage after the players had warmed up. finally performing around 10 minutes before the scheduled kickoff time.
That pregame sequence still included its own musical showcase before Perry arrived. Earlier on. Future. Anitta. LISA. Rema. and Tyla had performed a much more high-energy show during part one of the pregame. which began around 90 minutes before the match. Tyla and Future had performed in front of a huge trophy. The Perry segment came later. and she performed in the middle of all 48 flags of countries represented in the 2026 World Cup.
The wider tournament opening night also came into view. Friday night’s Mexico game at the Azteca saw J Balvin make headlines. In Toronto, Michael Bublé led the way ahead of Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia.
For the USA, Friday marked the match after three other tournament openers on different days and continents. Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the first game of the tournament in Mexico City. South Korea came from behind to down Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara. Earlier on Friday. Canada snatched a 1-1 draw against Bosnia in Toronto before attention turned to Los Angeles for the USMNT’s opener against Paraguay.
Perry’s appearance also landed amid ongoing public interest beyond music. When Katy Perry was announced as the opening ceremony headliner ahead of the tournament. the choice raised eyebrows. including because of the nationality of her politician boyfriend Justin Trudeau. The article details how Perry and Trudeau were first linked in July 2025 after being spotted walking together in a park in Montreal. Their romance “has since gone from strength to strength. ” and they were spotted embracing on the singer’s yacht in Santa Barbara in early October. They officially confirmed their relationship in December by sharing photos together on the politician’s visit to Japan. with one fan referring to the post as “the craziest hard launch in the history of the free world.”.
At a World Cup that has previously seen infamous moments in the United States — including Diana Ross’ penalty miss and president Bill Clinton’s attendance in 1994 — Friday’s SoFi opening ceremony lacked those headline gaffes. There were no such high-profile interruptions and. as the report notes. no president Trump in the building — just a simple ballad from Perry and her young companion.
The part that lingered for many fans wasn’t what the USA did after kickoff. It was what happened before it — a single-song set, a dismantled stage, an online scramble, and a crowd in search of the performance they were told they would get.
For Mauricio Pochettino’s team, though, the result was everything. The USA were described as narrow favorites to win Group D opening against Paraguay, with the next tests listed as matches against Australia and Turkey.
Katy Perry Tius Luka USA vs Paraguay USMNT World Cup 2026 SoFi Stadium David Beckham Victoria Beckham Tom Cruise Eva Longoria Future Anitta LISA Rema Tyla J Balvin Michael Bublé Canada vs Bosnia