US women’s national soccer team will not sing national anthem during third World Cup game with Portugal in 2023 after controversy in previous two games
- The US Women’s World Cup match with Portugal was preceded by the national anthem
- Seven of the 11 US players were silent and did not put their hands on their hearts – something that has caused a backlash after previous games
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The U.S. women’s soccer team made headlines again during the World Cup when they went silent while playing The Star-Spangled Banner ahead of their game against Portugal.
The defending champions were accused of disrespect ahead of their 2023 World Cup opener against Vietnam, when six of the 11 American players remained silent and did not put their hands to their hearts during the national anthem.
Ahead of their second game against the Netherlands, US Women delivered another uninspiring performance during the national anthem and today, prior to playing against Portugal, turned out to be the last division episode.
While three players – including striker Alex Morgan – seemed to mumble along to the national anthem, many in the squad remained motionless and did not put their hands on their hearts as the national anthem played. Four players – Morgan, Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher and Lindsey Horan – put their hands on their chests.
The Portuguese players, on the other hand, all sang proudly as their national anthem was played.
Many members of the US women’s national team remained silent during The Star Spangled Banner
Alyssa Naeher (left) and Julie Ertz (right) put their hands on their hearts as it was played out
However, many of their teammates again chose to remain silent when fans criticized their behavior
“It’s sad when only a few players show respect during the national anthem. And many wonder why Americans crave an American loss so much,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“The world stage is not the place to push your agenda, it’s where you show pride and togetherness. Go to the US!’
Another added: “What this team just did when Anthem played was disheartening and disgraceful, especially in contrast to Team Portugal.”
A third said, “Watching the @USWNT during the national anthem is embarrassing. Thank you @LindseyHoran @julietz for showing your patriotism.”
Critics continued to scrutinize the American women’s behavior during the national anthem after former team captain Megan Rapinoe knelt in 2016 in protest of racist police brutality.
American fans were “disheartened” by the “disgraceful” performance of players who failed to sign the national anthem
Rapinoe, who is now playing her last World Cup, also said in 2019 that she would “never put my hand on my heart” and “never sing the national anthem again.”
All but one of the players knelt in protest before a match against Australia in 2021, but the team was falsely accused of turning its back on the flag and a World War II veteran for another match that year.
Controversy over the national anthem at this tournament has caused a lot of backlash.
Media personality Megyn Kelly is one of the most outspoken critics, accusing the players who remain silent of harming the United States with their actions.
“I do believe that their version of what being a feminist is, what it means to be a powerful woman, at least as an American woman, is to hate your country,” Kelly said on SiriusXM’s The Megyn Kelly Show.
Alex Morgan (right) was among a small minority who appeared to mutter the national anthem
Critics are targeting the players who continue to oppose the anthem
“It means going on the national stage and embarrassing yourself and your country by not singing the national anthem. For some of them, who didn’t even put their hands over their hearts when the national anthem played, that was a bridge too far.
“They couldn’t be bothered to put their hand over their heart as the national anthem played, as they stood there to represent you and me and the country and our military and people who gave their lives for the country they represent.
“It was too much trouble (for them) to put their hands on their hearts, or, God forbid, sing.”
This American team is bidding for football history and aiming to become the first team in the men’s and women’s game to win the World Cup in three consecutive tournaments.