
(Scypre.com) – Over the years, the United States women’s national team’s relationship with the national anthem has evolved into a complex issue. In previous instances, some team members chose to take a knee during the anthem before the kickoff of a match.
However, in their opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Vietnam, most of the USWNT players stood in silence as the “Star-Spangled Banner” played. Meanwhile, the entire Vietnamese team passionately sang their national anthem, “Tiến Quân Ca” or “Song of a Marching Army,” with all eleven players holding their right hands over their hearts.
Among the 11 American players on the field at Eden Park, six stood with their hands to their side or behind their back during the anthem, while the remaining five placed their hands over their hearts. Some players like Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher, and Lindsey Horan were seen mouthing the words to the anthem, while others stood stoically.
Vietnam’s presence in the FIFA Women’s World Cup marked a significant milestone for their women’s soccer, which has historically faced challenges in obtaining resources on par with the men’s team. In the past, some Vietnamese women’s national team players had to take on other jobs due to low pay.
The Vietnamese team exhibited great pride during their first World Cup match, showcasing their passion as their national anthem played. However, on the field, the skill and talent of the USWNT, the reigning two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champions, prevailed, leading them to a 3-0 victory.
Megan Rapinoe, a prominent U.S. soccer star, made headlines as one of the first female athletes to take a knee during the national anthem in solidarity with former NFL player Colin Kaepernick’s protest against police brutality and social injustice in 2016.
Kaepernick initiated this peaceful protest during a preseason game on August 14, 2016, and Rapinoe joined him in the act, drawing more attention when she continued to kneel before another preseason game on August 26.
Rapinoe, who announced her retirement from professional soccer after the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season, has been an outspoken advocate on various social issues, including LGBTQ+ rights, racial inequality, voter rights, and gender and pay equity.
During the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Rapinoe stated that she would not put her hand over her heart or sing the national anthem. Her stance became apparent in subsequent matches, with only one member of the American women’s soccer team choosing not to kneel during the “Star-Spangled Banner” in a 2021 match against Australia.