Katy Perry criticized for being 'past her prime' after being invited to perform at the World Cup opening ceremony

Los Angeles [US], May 10: According to the Daily Mail, many soccer fans believe Katy Perry no longer has the appeal to appear at one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.
According to the latest announcement, Katy Perry will be the main artist at one of the three opening ceremonies of the 2026 World Cup. The 41-year-old singer is scheduled to perform on June 12th at SoFi Stadium, located in Inglewood, Los Angeles (USA).
FIFA's decision has angered football fans.
Following The Athletic's report on May 9th, many viewers left negative comments on social media platform X. "I really think they could have chosen someone better," one user wrote. Another was more scathing: "Don't try to make Katy famous again. She's past her prime." One netizen questioned: "What does she have left to bring to the World Cup opening ceremony ?" Meanwhile, another sarcastically remarked: "What song will she sing? This World Cup is a disaster."
Some comments even recalled the sexual assault allegations that actress Ruby Rose had made against Katy Perry: "A sex offender who hasn't had a hit song in over a decade is going to perform at the World Cup?"
Earlier in April, the star of the film Stowaway accused Katy Perry of sexually assaulting her at the Spice Market nightclub in Melbourne, Australia in 2010. Victoria State Police are currently investigating the matter. Katy Perry's side has vehemently denied all allegations.
However, not everyone disagreed. Some viewers argued that Katy Perry was still a suitable choice for a large-scale entertainment stage.
"The World Cup used to be about sport, fans, and national pride. Now every global event has become a music festival. But admittedly, Katy knows how to put on a show," one commenter wrote. A Katy Perry fan account also expressed support: "She'll liven up the atmosphere before the game, that's great. We've been without pop superstars at the World Cup for too long."
Besides Katy Perry, the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026 also featured many stars such as Future, Sanjoy, Lisa, and Marilyn Monroe. However, BlackPink member Lisa also became a controversial name immediately after the list of performing artists was announced.
Many viewers believe that the female idol still lacks the influence to appear at a globally iconic event like the World Cup. Some netizens even questioned whether Lisa's participation in the program was related to behind-the-scenes connections with her rumored boyfriend, Frederic Arnault, the son of billionaire Bernard Arnault - the owner of the luxury goods group LVMH.
This year, FIFA will hold the opening ceremony in all three co-hosting countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The series of events will begin on June 11th at the legendary Estadio Azteca, where Mexico will face South Africa. The following day, the US team will meet Paraguay in Los Angeles, while Canada will take on Bosnia & Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto.
According to the plan, each musical performance will represent the host nation and the opposing team in the respective match.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper