Shakira performing at the Mexico City opening ceremony, 11 June 2026:
Or more precisely, why did some American football fans boo England's flagbearer when entering the stadium at the World Cup's opening ceremony in Los Angeles?
I just don't understand the boos. I can only think of three possible explanations. First, Americans still hate the English despite America gaining independence 250 years ago. Second, some Americans are pissed off at Britain in not joining America and Israel in the ongoing war against Iran. That was only the second time that the British government declined to offer military support to America's foreign wars - the first time was America's war in Vietnam. And third, the boos were from MAGA spectators fed a diet of anti-Britain, as well as anti-Europe, messages peddled by Donald Trump, J D Vance and Elon Musk.
Why do you think American fans booed England's flag?
At the Los Angeles opening ceremony, Iran's flagbearer was also booed. And at the Mexico City opening ceremony and Toronto opening ceremony, the American flagbearer was booed. These boos are more understandable. Being understood doesn't mean I condone the boos. This World Cup arguably is the most politicised World Cup ever.
Michael Bublé performing at the Toronto opening ceremony, 12 June 2026:
What was also interesting at the three opening ceremonies, one opening ceremony for each of the three co-hosts, was the absence of the three countries' political leaders. Very surprisingly, the American President Donald Trump was too busy to attend though he found the time to take in a New York Knicks basketball game. Slightly surprisingly, the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was in France for talks with Emmanuel Macron. And perhaps not surprisingly the Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum decided not to attend the opening ceremony in solidarity with the many Mexican football fans who cannot afford to buy a ticket for World Cup games.
So far the three co-hosts have started well. Mexico predictably beat South Africa, Canada drew with Bosnia and Herzegovina earning their first ever point in a World Cup, and America had an impressive win over Paraguay. It's always good for the World Cup hosts to do well as it helps to maintain interest in the host countries.
Following my WORLD CUP FEVER? blog post a few weeks ago in which I admitted that I was struggling to get excited about the World Cup, I'm still not excited. Things aren't helped because the games are shown very late in the night and even very early in the morning here in Britain. I've decided to watch the highlights of the group games the day after. I will watch England's games, plus a few other games, live. I will also listen to some games live on the radio while in bed trying to sleep.
Because there are now 48 teams in the World Cup - it was 36 - there's not enough jeopardy in the group stages. The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, plus the 8 top third-placed teams, will go through to the Round of 32. That's 72 games to knock out 16 teams. It's very likely that a team will progress to the last 32 by just winning one match or even drawing two matches in their group! There's little jeopardy, so the stakes of group games aren't high.
Katy Perry performing at the Los Angeles opening ceremony, 12 June 2026:
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22 comments
I would think a chunk of the Aholes that booed are ones that support the current administration here in the US who have made it ok to hate, cut down and treat people like crud and not show any sportsmanship.
That's my suspicion too. They're not great ambassadors for America.
This country is so deeply divided that sports, which is supposed to unite, is not immune now. If our clown told the supposed Patriots who support him to burn American flags. They would. Not one of them is a Patriot. Talking of Patriots, hearing The Scottish fans sing Flower of Scotland, just wow. The noise, the passion. P.S you know he got booed at the Knicks game.
Scotland's Flower of Scotland is a very moving and rousing anthem.
I'd boo Donald Trump if I saw him out and about, though I guess he has no plans to visit where I live!
It's brilliant to see all the coverage of the #TartanArmy doing what they do so well!!
@stonnerking The tartan Army have taken over Boston (and Providence in neighbouring Rhode Island).
Your pontification of this situation is more about who lives in your head rent free..TDS. it's just a game.
What an inane comment you've just left. Rather than trying to explain why the England flagbearer was booed you decided to accuse me of TDS, a syndrome that doesn't exist.
I realise football is a game, and I suspect you're playing a game. I'm sure you'll be at the front of the line for deMAGAfication.
Your cult leader promised no wars on his watch and he promised the cost of living, I believe it's called affordability in America, would be tackled. He's failed on both counts big time.
I can't take your comment seriously.
@spunkycumfun You sir are seriously over compensating for something. The use of the term "cult leader" The President of the free world, D.J. Trump is not Jim Jones. Please get a grip on reality. England has been overtaken by foreigners, your culture, your country, is no longer. Islamist are in control and the world knows this. Being booed may well be the results of how far your country has gone down the rabbit hole...thinking that here in America there will be "deMAGAfications" how European of you.
@Swapheat
@OldStandardDudeX I'm getting comfy for this one...
@Swapheat I have this on for you today...
@Swapheat I didn't know you are a psychologist by suggesting I'm "over compensating for something". I'm not, I'm just calling it out.
I do think MAGA is effectively a cult - see my IS MAGA A CULT? blog post.
You clearly haven't got a clue about England, and probably other European countries. You seem to be parroting the lines of your cult leader.
You are proof that MAGA is a cult. You need to escape while you can!
@spunkycumfun crawled back into the dark lol
@stonnerking He's probably struggling to insert a finger-space into the words he's writing!
@spunkycumfun they truly are the dumbest of the dumb.
Why no reply @swapheat
I'm a little disappointed after your initial comments...
@stonnerking He's probably looking for help. MAGA trolls here tend to hunt in packs. I've blocked many a MAGA troll because they get abusive, But to swap's credit, he hasn't been abusive ... yet!
To my American cousins.
As an English man it saddens me that some Americans feel this way, ill be the first person to admit our current government are a sad excuse for a gagle of fucktards but hopefully peaple aren't stupid enough to believe these privet school social rejects actually represent the peaple of the uk as I can safely say 99.9% of the world's population are not represented by the power hunger sociopaths that runs our government's.
Anyway my lonely cousins what the fuck do I know x
Governments worldwide very rarely represent the people they govern.
I'm not sure that this episode merits an unevidenced diatribe against the Starmer Government.
As an American it saddens me that some Americans felt that way.
Why did Americans boo England? I can't answer that for sure but the words "rude" and "stupid" come to mind.
It came as a surprise to me. I always thought the English were very welcome in America. I realise that those who booed don't represent American people, well at least I hope not.
What little coverage I've seen on SoMe there hasn't been much relating to England.
Seeing a fair share of the #TartanArmy though, they're all having a blast!!!
Scotland got the job done last night, sorry early this morning!
@spunkycumfun I was more surprised when I saw Brazil had drawn.
@stonnerking Brazil aren't the team they used to be, and Morocco are now a good team.
@spunkycumfun shows how little I know about it!!!
They are.
@njfitguy1 Brilliant!! The young lad who walked from L.A. is a Legend for that effort.
@stonnerking There are a bunch more of them marching to Fenway Park after the match. It's cool to see.
@njfitguy1 yeah he's raised well over £1m doing it!
You know I'm not the least bit interested in sporting events, and neither is my husband, so I have no idea how the World Cup is going, but I wanted to at least make this comment because I found what you said about the booing of flags interesting. It seems to me that the world, especially the Western world, is too polarized and politicized, though not in the sense of good politics: the kind that involves debating ideas and seeking the common good based on reason, but rather visceral arguments based on slogans and clichés.
Anyway, I wish all football fans a good time with the matches, which I hope will be competitive but played in a sporting spirit, and may the best team win!
I agree with you that politics has become very polarised which never makes for reasonable and nuanced discussion.
COOL!!
The World Cup is cool!
@spunkycumfun
AGREED!
Like You, I Simply Don't Understand the Boos!
@YourDickToUse196 I was surprised at the boos. Gone are my assumptions that the English are welcome in America!
The president is distracted with his birthday party, and the threat of it being rained out.
Let's hope it rains and his attempt to be a Caesar witnessing a UFC fight is a wash-out. I wonder whether Trump will do the thumbs up or down for the losing fighter to survive! It's truly a pathetic stunt.
I had not heard of the boos. Apparently, sports media did not cover it. I certainly can not explain the reason for the boos. Some game times here are late for a national game. I suspect that FIFA dictates the schedule and is trying to maximize viewership worldwide. There are 4 matches today, 1, 4, 7 and 10. I am feeling the fever, from talking to different people, everyone is watching. There are watch parties all over. Cars are displaying national flags. Being aware of road closures.
Now that the Knicks have won, more focus will be on the Cup. The Knicks' parade will be Thursday, I am planning to go.
I didn't watch the opening ceremonies. The boos were reported by the BBC.
Given that the basketball is finished and America started with an impressive win against Paraguay, I'm hoping it's now World Cup lift-off in America.
@spunkycumfun Also, now that basketball is done, the buses will be safe. Some school buses used for transporting fans between NYC and the stadium were damaged in the Knicks celebration. Due to traffic the buses returning after the Brazil game were very late due to traffic at the tunnel. This left them stuck in city traffic during the post game celebrations.
@njfitguy1 I heard about the wild celebrations after the New York Knicks had won. I guess the fans have been waiting a long time to celebrate.
@spunkycumfun 53 years
Most likely the last reason, poorly educated people don't understand that Nato is a defensive organisation and probably don't realise that only one nation has evoked article 5 and when they did their Nato allies sent their young men to die on their behalf. But apparently a certain draft dodger tried to make out that we took a back seat, which is exactly what he did during the Vietnam war lol.
Trump is still claiming that NATO is an offence pact!
Unfortunately, the hardcore supporters who follow the orange face guy, don’t know how to think for themselves and just do whatever they think he would do, which is to boo England and any other country that the orange face guy bashes or smears.
I think your reason is the reason.
I had no idea that Britain was Booed that's a real shame and it shouldn't of happened. And I think all of our allies did the right thing by not joining in the war with Iran because of the felon.
I hope your Monday continues to be a marvelous start to your new week..?
I think Britain and others did the right thing not going to war with Iran.
Trump's peace deal with Iran is remarkably similar to Obama's peace deal that he ripped up except that far more people were killed in pursuit of his deal!
@spunkycumfun Full details not out yet but I suspect it will be worse. No tolls on the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days. No guarantee after that. Love to know how it will be sold to the American people.
@shydivorced2 I doubt there's a lot of detail. Obama's deal took years to negotiate.
I have no idea why the booed, didn't even know they had.
Was Katy booed too? She is seriously dating a liberal former Canadian PM after all!
Katy Perry wasn't booed though her performance was criticised.
England and Argentina are based in Kansas City for the World Cup.
@spunkycumfun Yes, I heard. 3 hours away - don't care. 😀
@CleavageFan4U You may see Lionel Messi and Harry Kane on your travels.