U.S. national anthem performed at World Cup final sparks backlash
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 19, 2026, 7:12 PM
Last updated Jul 19, 2026
During the pregame ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup Final on July 19, 2026, the U.S. national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, was sung by Jennifer Hudson. This performance drew significant criticism as the United States team was not participating in the match between Spain and Argentina. Fans expressed their discontent on social media, questioning the choice to feature the anthem and suggesting it detracted from the event. Controversy surrounding FIFA and U.S. involvement in the tournament, including the treatment of players and commercial interruptions, has added to the dissatisfaction expressed by attendees.
- •Jennifer Hudson performed the U.S. national anthem at the World Cup final.
- •The final featured Spain against Argentina on July 19, 2026.
- •Fans criticized the performance as inappropriate since the U.S. team was not playing.
- •Concerns about FIFA's decisions have emerged throughout the tournament.
- 7:12 PMYahoo Sports — ‘Pathetic’: U.S. National Anthem sparks outrage at World Cup
"Ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina, the United States national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, was performed in front of the packed crowd. It was a controversial decision to perform the national anthem of a team that was not involved in the match, and it did not go over well with the fans. During…
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