Full Breakdown
Rod Stewart’s Concert Cancellation Followed by World Cup Appearance Sparks Fan Backlash
6/15/2026, 4:13:25 AM
Concert Cancellation and World Cup Appearance
On June 13, 2024, Rod Stewart’s scheduled concert at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California was called off less than an hour before showtime. His team cited an acute upper-respiratory infection that caused laryngitis and rendered his voice unusable. Within hours, Stewart boarded a private jet with his sons, Liam Stewart (31) and Alistair Stewart (20), and traveled to Boston to watch Scotland’s FIFA World Cup match against Haiti. He was filmed cheering in the stadium’s stands, repeating “No Scotland, no party.”
Background & Recent Health-Related Cancellations
The Chula Vista cancellation occurred amid Stewart’s “One Last Time” tour. Earlier in May, he postponed two Las Vegas residency dates at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace after a doctor ordered additional rest for a sinus infection. A week later, four shows were canceled and two more postponed on the same tour, with Stewart apologizing on Instagram and promising to resume performances.
Official Statements & Responses
- Stewart’s representatives announced that doctors diagnosed an acute upper-respiratory infection leading to laryngitis and advised against performing.
- Live Nation, the event’s producer, reported the cancellation was due to a recurrence of a sinus infection.
- The team said Stewart received “a few rounds of steroids and treatment” that improved his condition but arrived too late for the concert.
- Ticketmaster customers were instructed that refunds would be issued automatically; resale purchasers were advised to contact their original sellers.
- A Stewart spokesperson confirmed the physician’s recommendation for vocal rest and noted the artist’s intent to reschedule the affected dates.
Criticism & Opposition
Fans expressed disappointment on social media, describing the appearance as “disingenuous” and “tone-deaf” given the recent cancellation. Comments highlighted the inconvenience to ticket-holders who had traveled, paid for accommodations, and taken time off work, questioning why Stewart could travel for a soccer match while his voice remained impaired.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the medical cause: Live Nation referenced a sinus infection, while Stewart’s team specified an acute upper-respiratory infection with laryngitis. No independent medical verification was provided, and details about the severity of Stewart’s condition remain unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Following treatment, I’m feeling much better, but my voice is not," he wrote, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.” — Rod Stewart, Instagram post
- “This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night,” — Instagram user
- “I know it’s disappointing and frustrating when someone cancels a show but that doesn’t mean their life, especially with their family, also stops. You can clearly hear in this video he is unwell by his voice and people have said he was unwell in previous concerts. I am a life long fan of Rod’s and I wouldn’t want him performing if it could possibly mean irreparable damage to his voice!!” — Fan comment
- “ "He was there [at the venue] but we had to text because he had no voice," the representative added.” — Stewart’s spokesperson to the San Diego Union-Tribune
- “There’s a difference between watching a game and performing for two hours.” — Fan defending Stewart’s travel
What’s Next
Stewart’s next scheduled performance is at Colorado’s Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre on June 15. Rescheduled dates for the Las Vegas residency and the remaining “One Last Time” tour shows are pending, with refunds already processed for the Chula Vista cancellation.
