Rod Stewart admits he shouldn't have gone to World Cup game after cancelling live show

25 June 2026, 13:14

Sir Rod attracted some criticism for travelling to see Scotland in the World Cup.

Sir Rod Stewart was forced to cancel a live show with throat issues earlier this month, which is understandable when you're belting out the hits well into your 80s.

But eyebrows were raised when he travelled across the US in a plane to see Scotland beat Haiti at Gillette Stadium in Boston the following day.

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And last week Rod appeared not to be at his physical peak when he had to take a pause during a show in Utah to take a few puffs from an oxygen tank and performing a song sat down.

"I really shouldn't have gone to the Haiti game," Stewart told talkSPORT.

“I had to cancel a show the night before because I just had no voice left. But the truth is, Jim, I wasn’t going to let my two sons down."

Rod Stewart - Sailing (Official HD Remastered Video)

He added: "I promised them since they were born that we’re going to go to a World Cup, and this is the first one that’s come about.

"And it wasn't a good look, I admit, but I'm going to just have to take the stick. So, I did it for the boys."

While Sir Rod has ruled out retirement, he is planning on phasing out large scale touring and focusing on more intimate live shows.