Rod Stewart Slammed for Attending World Cup Hours After Cancelling Concert
Rod Stewart is facing backlash from his fans for cheering on Scotland at the World Cup just one day after cancelling a concert due to health concerns.
"Here we are flying off to Boston to see Scotland in the World Cup," Stewart, 81, said in an Instagram video shared Saturday, June 13. "It's been 28 years so these kids, I've told them about it, but they've never been. I've been to seven World Cups."
"Me and the boys off to Boston to see our Scotland 🏴 in the World Cup!" he added in the caption. "No Scotland no party."
The evening before, Stewart cancelled his concert at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in San Diego, just 45 minutes before he was supposed to take the stage.
"He traveled to the venue and made every effort to perform, but on the advice of his doctors, and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take the stage this evening," read a statement posted to the venue's social media pages.
Stewart followed that up with a statement via his Instagram Story that has since expired.
"Following treatment, I'm feeling much better, but my voice is not," he wrote, according to People. "I'm very disappointed and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I did everything I could to make the show happen tonight."
The next day, Stewart was seen celebrating as Scotland defeated Haiti, 1-0, in group stage play at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
After Stewart revealed he was headed to the World Cup, fans began flooding his Instagram comments to voice their displeasure.
"Many traveled long distances, paid for hotels, parking, tickets, and took time off work to be there," one fan wrote, referring to his canceled concert. "Then to see you flying across the country for a soccer game the very next morning makes the situation feel even more tone deaf. The cancellation was frustrating enough, but this comes across as incredibly dismissive of the fans who support your career. A little empathy and awareness would have gone a long way."
Another fan added, "This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night. Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer? Also- your story lighting is all wrong- it's dark on your photo from the venue but the cancellation was in full daylight…
2nd time I've flown somewhere to see you and you've cancelled in the past year."
A third fan took some humor in the situation, writing, "Don't worry, I am sure Rod will be back on tour very soon! Probably at the end of the group stages!"
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 5:15 PM.