American MLS Player Takes Subtle Dig at Canadian Fans Who Booed 'The Star-Spangled Banner'

Canadian Major League Soccer fans made headlines again by booing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday night. The scene unfolded at B.C. Place in Vancouver, where the atmosphere was less about sportsmanship and more about simmering political tensions.

The trend of booing the U.S. national anthem has been gaining traction across Canada, reportedly fueled by lingering tensions over tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump and his cheeky remarks about Canada potentially becoming the 51st U.S. state. What started during a hockey game with the Ottawa Senators has since spilled into other events, including the 4 Nations Face-Off and even WWE’s Elimination Chamber. Yes, the boos have gone pro.

Brian White, an American forward for the Vancouver Whitecaps, had the perfect response after scoring the decisive goal in his team’s 2-1 victory over Los Angeles. "I would like to say thank you to the fans that cheered and clapped the anthem at the end and showed respect for the flag," White told reporters, as reported by the Daily Hive Vancouver. He added, "Obviously there’s issues. It’s not my business, and I’ll leave it at that." Talk about a diplomatic dribble.

The public address announcer at B.C. Place had urged fans to show respect during the performance of the anthem. But as soon as the group of singers—Elizabeth Irving, Marie Hui, Emma Currie, and Arielle Tuliao—began the U.S. anthem, the boos erupted like a poorly-timed offside call. Irving, by the way, also performed the anthem at WWE’s Elimination Chamber, where her rendition was met with similar disdain.

Even WWE commentator Pat McAfee couldn’t resist chiming in, saying, "It kind of sucks that it's in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing." Subtle, right?

The cultural divide between the two neighbors seems alive and well, at least when it comes to their national anthems. Whether this trend will fizzle out or escalate further remains to be seen, but for now, it seems like boos are becoming the unofficial soundtrack to cross-border sporting events.