2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Once again, for the third time since the start of the Women’s World Cup, the vast majority of female soccer players in the United States did not sing the national anthem. It happened before the final group match against Portugal, which caused sharp criticism at home.
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2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
And again the third since the beginning of the year FIFA Women’s World Cup, United States hit the headlines not because of the results on the field, but because most of the players remained silent during the playing of their national anthem. This was already in the debut against Vietnam (3:0), then the scene was repeated in the second meeting with the Netherlands (1:1) and finally today, in the last group match against Portugalwhich ended in a draw 0:0, which gives the main favorite of the 1/8 finals – the chances of the bookmakers on hand – for the final victory.
The US women’s team lined up in midfield ahead of the national anthem against Portugal.
The footage shows some of the players barely muttering the anthem, while others stood still and didn’t put their hands on their hearts as the camera caught them one by one before kick-off. In particular, Andy Sullivan, Naoi Girma, Emily Fox, Sophia Smith, Crystal Dunn and Trinity Rodman (daughter of former NBA champion Dennis the Great) were silent before the opening game against Vietnam and have been repeating since lined up from 1′.
Even the coaching staff was silent. The case caused a lot of controversy in the United States, attracting even harsh criticism against the girls trained by Vlatko Andonovski, accused of lack of patriotism.
Nuhaila Benzina made history by becoming the first player to wear a hijab at the World Cup.
But why don’t American football players sing the national anthem? In addition to fighting for equal pay with men, the US women’s soccer team has long defended lawsuits related to civil rightswith the legend in the front row Megan Rapino. The 38-year-old multiple world champion and former Ballon d’Or winner has become a very vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights, equal pay and the Black Lives Matter movement in recent years.
Megan Rapinoe at her last World Championship: 38-year-old American won the Ballon d’Or in 2019
Thus, the position of the players will be related to the fight against discrimination and social inequality in the United States.. Rapino, who plays at her last World Championship, said in 2019 that “she would never put her hand on her heart” AND “he will never sing the national anthem again“.
Meanwhile, this very strong generation of American football players is a candidate to write their name in the history of football: in case of ultimate success, In fact, this could become the first men’s and women’s team to win three consecutive world championships.after winning Canada in 2015 and France in 2019.