US Women’s Soccer Team Faces Highest Online Abuse at World Cup
US Women’s Soccer team 2023
US women national team
The US women’s soccer team faced over double the amount of online abuse compared to other nations at the Women’s World Cup, according to a FIFA and FIFPRO report.
Factors included the team’s status as reigning champions and perceptions of players not singing the national anthem.
Abusive posts labeled players as «unpatriotic» or «Anti-American.»
The abuse peaked when the US was eliminated by Sweden, with supportive posts from politicians triggering a majority of the online abuse.
The report, utilizing FIFA and FIFPRO’s social media protection service tool, analyzed 5.1 million posts in 35 languages, protecting 697 players and coaches from seeing abusive messages using artificial intelligence.
Discriminatory messages targeted one in five players at the tournament, with «homophobic, sexual, and sexist abuse» accounting for nearly half of all messages on various platforms.
Two players, one from the US and one from Argentina, were particularly targeted, but their names were not disclosed.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the need for social media accountability, stating there is no place for abuse or threats online.
Female players at the Women’s World Cup were 29% more likely to receive online abuse than their male counterparts at the men’s World Cup in Qatar.
The final between Spain and England witnessed an increase in sexual and misogynistic abuse, triggered by Luis Rubiales’ unwarranted kiss on World Cup-winning star Jennifer Hermoso.
FIFPRO President David Aganzo stressed the responsibility of football to protect players in their digital workspace, acknowledging the impact of online abuse on players’ mental health and well-being.
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