U.S. Women’s Early FIFA Exit Highlights Political Division and Culture War

The U.S. women’s World Cup team - which is known for being politically outspoken - was upset by Sweden this week, drawing mixed media reactions.

Roster & Parity: An opinion for Vox (Left bias) criticized conservatives, including Former President Donald Trump and Benny Johnson for describing the women’s team as “woke” and gloating over their elimination. It compared conservative discontent with the team to previous boycotts like Bud Light and the Barbie Movie. The writer attributed the upset to injuries and increased parity within world soccer.

Rapinoe Makes It Tough: An opinion writer for Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Center bias) said while they believe America should always cheer for its teams, players’ “graceless self-absorption… can make such cheering impossible.” The writer said U.S. star player Megan Rapinoe is committed “to a lifetime of disrespect for the country she supposedly represents,” and since America is so diverse, it’s “not unfair to expect those representing our country to avoid berating it.”

Don’t Blame Republicans: An opinion writer for National Review (Right bias) critiqued the media, particularly a recent piece by New Republic (Left bias), for blaming the politicization of women’s soccer on Republicans. The writer says the U.S. team, primarily Rapinoe, has been eager to start “political feuds” and use “incendiary language,” despite how many Americans it may alienate. The writer said they “don’t endorse rooting against” America, but conservative reactions to the team’s loss is a “culmination of years of efforts on the team’s part to cultivate that response.”