US Soccer Fires Back At Critics, Denies USWNT Players Turned Their Backs During National Anthem

The United States Women’s National Team fired back at critics who claimed, Monday, that the women’s soccer team turned their backs on a World War II veteran who played the national anthem, noting that the team was facing the American flag and posting a video of each team member thanking the veteran personally after the game.

On Monday, the USWNT trended on Twitter after critics claimed the team turned their backs on the anthem performer, based on a video from ESPN that showed some team members facing forward, and some team members facing to their right. The referees and the Mexican national team, whom the USWNT was playing for the chance to go to the Tokyo Olympic games, were facing forward.