Katy Perry’s Sparkling World Cup Gown Steals the Spotlight

Katy Perry was supposed to be the headline act at the opening ceremony for the World Cup in Los Angeles, but within minutes she became a social-media punchline. The American singer performed before the United States vs. Paraguay opener at SoFi Stadium, and for many viewers her outfit drew as much attention as the show itself.

Perry sang "Wonder" from her 2024 album, joined on stage by 10-year-old Norwegian singer Tyller Lukka. The pair delivered an emotional moment before kickoff, as part of a festive ceremony that also featured Tyla, Anitta, Lisa of Blackpink, and other artists.

Attention quickly shifted to the dress Perry wore, a silver, glittering Stella McCartney gown with an unusually wide waist area and long fringes that hung in all directions under the stadium lights. Social-media reactions were sharply mocking, with one user saying she looked like "a lampshade covered in cheap glitter," another asking, "Why is she dressed like a lampshade?" Others compared the look to the NHL's Stanley Cup, while some called it simply "a roller coaster of a mess."

Despite the criticism, Perry created a memorable moment. A day before the performance, she posted a video introducing Lukka, who said he recorded his part of the song when he was five. Perry said, "I heard his voice in 2023 and it inspired me to write the song. Now he is 10 and flew all the way from Norway to Los Angeles to sing with me at the World Cup." Her appearance was part of the U.S. opening ceremony, one of three host-country ceremonies, alongside Shakira in Mexico and performances in Canada by Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette.