Katy Perry and Future headline USA's World Cup opener as Trump skips SoFi Stadium

Katy Perry and Future took centre stage at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday as the United States opened their World Cup 2026 campaign against Paraguay, with President Donald Trump notably absent from the stands.

Perry headlined the ceremony in California, closing the show after a run of high-profile performances across the co-hosting nations. Shakira had performed in Mexico City ahead of that country’s opener, while Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette appeared before Canada’s first match.

Trump, who has been a vocal champion of the tournament’s return to American soil, skipped the occasion ahead of his 80th birthday celebrations in Washington this weekend — a conspicuous absence given the political weight the administration has placed on the event.

Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager, takes charge of the USA in what is one of the most anticipated home fixtures in the country’s football history. The Americans are drawn in a group alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey, and will be expected to advance comfortably before facing stiffer tests in the knockout rounds.

The tournament itself has not been without controversy in its early stages. Empty seats at several venues and the introduction of mandatory drinks breaks have drawn criticism from fans and pundits alike, casting a minor shadow over what organisers had billed as a seamless celebration of the global game.

Nonetheless, the atmosphere at SoFi Stadium for the USA’s opener represented the tournament’s biggest moment on home soil so far, with the host nation’s football-hungry public eager to see Pochettino’s side make a statement on the grandest stage.