US Soccer Repeals Policy Requiring Players to Stand for National Anthem

Megan Rapinoe #15 of the U.S. Women's National Team kneels during the playing of the U.S. National Anthem before a match against Thailand at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Sept. 15, 2016. Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

The United States Soccer Federation’s (USSF) national council has voted to repeal a policy that required players to stand for the national anthem.

More than 70 percent of the members of U.S. Soccer’s ruling body voted on Feb. 27 to repeal Policy 604-1, which was originally adopted by the USSF in 2017. The policy stated, “All persons representing a Federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented.”