Pop star Katy Perry faced intense criticism for a lackluster performance during the USA's World Cup opening match in Los Angeles.. While the USMNT secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, the pre-game entertainment failed to energize the crowd of over 70,000 fans.

A single performance of 'Wonder' and a spaceship dress

Rather than delivering a high-energy medley of hits like "Firework" or "I Kissed A Girl," Katy Perry performed only one song, a lesser-known track titled "Wonder" from two years ago. According to the report, the performance took place just 10 minutes before kickoff, leaving many in attendance feeling underwhelmed by the brief appearance.

The reception on X was overwhelmingly negative, with fans describing the set as a "train wreck" and criticizing Perry's vocals.. the pop star's attire also drew ridicule, as social media users compared her bold silver dress to a spaceship, suggesting she had returned to her "astronaut days."

How 10-year-old Tius Luka outshone the headliner

While the main act struggled, 10-year-old Norwegian singer Tius Luka emerged as the breakout star of the ceremony. As the report says, Luka received widespread praise for his vocals while performing alongside Katy Perry, with many viewers claiming the young viral cover artist stole the show.

The disappointment surrounding Perry's set was amplified by the high energy of the preceding acts.. Earlier in the pre-game window, which began roughly 90 minutes before the match, artists including Future, Anitta, LISA,Rema, and Tyla delivered a more dynamic show in front of a massive trophy, setting a bar that the final act failed to meet.

The Beckhams' Hollywood Walk of Fame star and the Brooklyn absence

The event was a magnet for A-list celebrities, including Tom Cruise and the Beckham family. David Beckham had just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame shortly before the game, an event attended by Victoria, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper Beckham.

Notably, Brooklyn Beckham was absent from both the Walk of Fame ceremony and the match at SoFi Stadium. This absence was highlighted by the fact that the unveiling took place only 20 minutes away from Brooklyn's multimillion-dollar residence in the Trousdale Estate, further fueling rumors of estrangement within the family.

From Diana Ross's 1994 gaffes to the 2026 SoFi Stadium slump

The awkwardness of the Los Angeles ceremony echoes the infaamous 1994 World Cup opener in the United States, which was remembered for Diana Ross's penalty miss and the attendance of President Bill Clinton. While the 2026 event avoided political gaffes or athletic mishaps , the lack of spectacle at SoFi Stadium felt like a different kind of failure in entertainment planning.

This low-key approach contrasted sharply with other host country openers. In Mexico, J Balvin made headlines at the Azteca, and in Toronto, Michael Bublé led the celebrations before Canada's 1-1 draw with Bosnia, suggesting that the US production failed to match the ambition of its neighbors.

The 90-minute gap and the dismantled stage confusion

Several logistical questions remain regarding the timing of the ceremony. there was a significant gap between the high-energy first half of the pre-game and Katy Perry's final appearance; during this interval, the stage was dismantled, leading to a social media meltdown as fans feared Perry had canceled her appearance entirely.

It remains unclear why the production chose to dismantle the stage before the headliner performed or why Perry's set was relegated to a ten-minute window immediately preceding the game. The source does not claify if these delays were due to technical issues or a specific creative choice by the organizers.