Vancouver Whitecaps fans boo US national anthem during MLS game

The boos in the course of the U.S. national anthem have made their way into Major League Soccer.

Ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps’ home game against the LA Galaxy on Sunday, the gang at BC Place showed no mercy in the course of the rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

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The booing is available in the midst of President Donald Trump’s tariff threats toward Canada and his comments about making Canada the 51st state within the U.S.

Loud booing in the course of the U.S. national anthem at BC Place moments before #VWFC vs #LAGalaxy kickoff. #MLS pic.twitter.com/FB6cDqtYdp

— Har Journalist (@HarJournalist) March 2, 2025

Whitecaps player Brian White hails from Flemington, N.J., and didn’t appreciate his Canadian fans’ anthem jeers.

“I would love to say thanks to the fans that cheered and clapped the anthem at the top and showed respect for the flag,” White said postgame. “Obviously there’s issues. It’s not my business and I’ll leave it at that.”

Brian White celebrates his goal that put the Vancouver Whitecaps up 2-1 late in the game against the LA Galaxy. — Brian White celebrates his goal that put the Vancouver Whitecaps up 2-1 late in the sport against the LA Galaxy. Getty Images

White scored a goal for Vancouver within the 88th minute to assist seal his team’s 2-1 victory.

The anthem boos have made their rounds at recent sporting events, with the Ottawa Senators’ game on Feb. 1 seemingly being the primary instance. The trend continued the very next day at a Toronto Raptors game and has taken off since.

Perhaps most notably, the boos completely engulfed the “Star-Spangled Banner” singer’s performance ahead of Team USA and Team Canada’s 4-Nations Face-Off matchup on Feb. 15 in Montreal, to which Americans briefly returned the favor five days later for the championship game in Boston.

On Saturday, Toronto fans booed an anthem performance at WWE’s Elimination Chamber, which led to ESPN’s Pat McAfee, who was on the commentary desk, to call Canada a “terrible country.”

Former NFL punter Pat McAfee during his broadcasting rant directed toward Canada during the WWE's Elimination Chamber event in Toronto on Saturday. — Former NFL punter Pat McAfee during his broadcasting rant directed toward Canada in the course of the WWE’s Elimination Chamber event in Toronto on Saturday. Peacock

“That is probably the most stacked Elimination Chamber that the WWE has ever had,” McAfee said. “Kinda sucks that it’s within the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to begin this complete thing.”

While the 2 countries are traditionally close allies, tensions are rapidly rising since Trump took office.

Whether or not it’s soccer, basketball or hockey, don’t expect this to be the last time the “Star-Spangled Banner” is booed by america’ neighbor to the north.