As the United States women’s national soccer team was set for its opening match against Vietnam in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Friday night, attention quickly shifted to the team’s demeanor during the singing of the national anthem.
While “The Star-Spangled Banner” was being sung before the match at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, many observers noticed that most of the team was silent and appeared stoic. Several players stood with their hands at their sides. Others held their hands over their hearts. Only three team members mouthed along to the tune, according to Fox News.
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THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS AT THE 2023 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME 🙌 pic.twitter.com/czqIXr5zBT
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 22, 2023
The team has not issued any official statement on the matter as of Sunday evening and has yet to respond to requests for comment. However, fans and commentators who noticed took to social media to express their shock, many calling it “disrespectful” and a “bad representation of the country.”
“The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team hates America, you can see it in their facial expressions and body language,” wrote Brigitte Gabriel. “They detest the National Anthem and everything it stands for. I couldn’t care less if they lose every game.”
“This is just SAD!!!” Graham Allen wrote. “Most of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team players REFUSED to sing the American national anthem. They are not REPRESENTING our country well.”
Still, others defended the team’s actions.
“Are people upset about the U.S. Women’s National Team not singing for the national anthem, as though most every other athlete sings along with the national anthem? Guessing it would take 3 seconds to find a clip of nearly nobody singing on another team,” tweeted one Twitter user.
The incident was just the latest controversy involving the national anthem in America’s sports landscape. In August 2016, NFL players began kneeling during the song to protest against perceived racial bias and discrimination in the United States. Many athletes across a number of different sports later joined them, making it a more widespread practice.
The United States won its opening match against Vietnam 3-0. Sophia Smith scored twice, and Lindsey Horan added another goal.
Its next 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup match will be against the Netherlands at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday.
