The United States Women’s National Team began their run through the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup this weekend with a strong and dominant 3-o win over Vietnam on Friday evening. But it was what happened before the game that really made headlines over the weekend.
During the pre-game ceremonies on Friday evening, the United States team stood on the field as the national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, played over the speakers. But as the song played, the majority of the players stood silent and did not put their hands over their hearts.
According to a recent report from News Week, the majority of the players on the team remained silent and chose not to sing the national anthem or put their hands over their hearts as the song played before the match.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
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
Only five of the players placed their hands over their hearts and only three players of the team’s starting 11 players sang along to the national anthem as it played.
As a result of the team’s decision to stay silent, people were absolutely furious at the team, blasting them on social media.
At least they managed to stand up this time. 5 of 11 had hands on hearts and a couple sang. Good for those 5 but the rest make it hard to root for them. 🙄 https://t.co/02n72ufDkS
— Laura 📚 (@LorieBama) July 22, 2023
Women’s World Cup National Anthem Stats:
USA vs. Vietnam
🇺🇸 5/11 players + coach had hand over heart
1/11 players sang anthem🇻🇳 11/11 players + coach sang anthem proudly w/hand over heart
Vietnam crushes USA on patriotism. https://t.co/8aKnorPizW
— Pragmatus (@GreatWallofText) July 22, 2023
Absolutely a disgrace that many on that team don’t have a hand over their hearts. This country has given them so much more opportunities than they would have anywhere else. https://t.co/8cbH99aSSd
— Nick Newman 🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇦 (@nicknewman801) July 22, 2023
They are lucky to be born here, at least put your hand over your heart! https://t.co/zuO913CKPl
— Anthony Giles (@tonybtbone) July 22, 2023
Good luck to the 5 women who respect our country and anthem. https://t.co/BkrKuLLxFu
— Peyton Ellis (@P8N_LS) July 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/ClevelandJeff/status/1682805368139796480?s=20
This isn’t necessarily a new decision, either. Several players chose to remain silent during the national anthem in 2019 as superstar Megan Rapinoe told Yahoo! Sports that she was probably never going to sing the national anthem again due to racial injustice and systematic oppression in the United States.
