Katy Perry announced as 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony headliner
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Football fans are not happy with Katy Perry being announced as the headliner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony.
The 41-year-old singer was announced as the headliner on Friday, May 8, and many in the football community had strong opinions about the choice. Pop Crave shared the announcement on their X account, and there were mixed reactions in the comments section.
Many were against the organization’s decision to sign him as the lead, with one commenter writing: “I honestly think they could have cast someone better.”
Another added: “On behalf of the football community, we don’t know Katy Perry.” A third wrote: “What songs will he perform, this World Cup is turning into a disaster!”
Perry’s announcement as the headliner of the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony sparked great reaction from football fans. (John Shearer/WireImage))
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A fourth commenter added: “He doesn’t have any current hits so what’s he gonna say?? Roar?? Wide awake?? The one that got away? Last Friday night?”
Others came to his defense, citing his Super Bowl halftime performance in 2015 as proof that he would put on a great show.
“Yo Katy Perry headlining the World Cup opener at SoFi. Love it,” one fan wrote. “He brings great energy to the field. Will he drop Firecrackers or Roar during the set? Now I need to see the whole cast. That makes me excited for June.”
Another supporter added: “Katy Perry headlining the 2026 World Cup opener at SoFi is huge. June 12 is going to be iconic,” while a third wrote: “My goat she totally deserved it.”
Some fans supported Perry, saying she deserved to be chosen as the artist. (Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for DVF)
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Perry rose to mainstream fame in 2008 with her number-one hit single “I Kissed a Girl.” He followed this in 2010 with the hit album “Teenage Dream”, which included hits such as “California Gurls”, “Teenage Dream”, “Firework” and “ET”.
His last album, “Smile,” was released in 2020, and he has released several songs in the six years since.
Last month, Perry came to the fore after “Orange Is the New Black” actress Ruby Rose claimed on social media that Perry sexually assaulted her at a nightclub in Melbourne 20 years ago. After he made the allegations public, Australian police launched an investigation against Perry.
“Melbourne Sexual Offenses and Child Exploitation Investigation Team (SOCIT) detectives are investigating a historic sexual assault that occurred in Melbourne in 2010,” a representative from Victoria Police said in a statement to Fox News Digital. he said. “Police have been told the incident occurred at a licensed premises in Melbourne’s CBD. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage as the investigation is ongoing.”
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Ruby Rose claimed that Katy Perry sexually assaulted her in a nightclub nearly 20 years ago. (Getty Images)
A representative for Perry immediately shut down the “categorically false” claims.
“Ruby Rose’s allegations about Katy Perry circulating on social media are not only categorically false, they are dangerous and reckless lies,” a representative for Perry told Fox News Digital in a statement at the time. “Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations against various individuals on social media, allegations that have been repeatedly denied by the individuals named.”
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