American World Cup fans were left feeling flat and unhappy on July 4 by a polarizing performance of The Star-Spangled Banner before France played Paraguay in Philadelphia.
Idina Menzel was the performer for the big moment at a scorching Lincoln Financial Field on the 250th birthday of the United States.
But as actress Menzel, known to millions as the voice of Elsa in ‘Frozen’, got underway, many viewers were unimpressed by a backing band playing a few yards behind her with drums, strings and a keyboard.
‘What is screeching this national anthem? Why do these singers try to turn it into a pop song?’ one stunned viewer wrote on social media.
Another posted: ‘This lady is BUTCHERING the national anthem. Inflections on all the wrong words….’
A different comment read: ‘The National Anthem is not a ballad!!!’
Viewers were unhappy at Idina Menzel’s Star-Spangled Banner World Cup performance
Viewers said she turned the national anthem into ‘a pop song’ on her July 4 rendition
A special 4th of July performance ahead of Paraguay vs France in the FIFA World Cup
Idina Menzel sings The Star-Spangled Banner on America’s 250th birthday at Philadelphia Stadium ���� pic.twitter.com/Xiw0WlQruk
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 4, 2026
Others thought Menzel had enhanced her vocals for the performance, with one writing: ‘Idina Menzel just performed the dullest version of the National Anthem I’ve ever heard with a autotuned mic.’
Menzel appeared to get plenty of cheers inside the stadium, however, and her performance was rounded off with fireworks and a flyover.
The United States national anthem has not been performed before every World Cup game during the tournament, despite it being a commonplace moment before American sports events.
But an exception was made given that it was July 4 on Saturday. Her performance was followed by The Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale – a hip-hop band and Jimmy Fallon’s house band – performing a rendition of ‘America the Beautiful’.
Menzel had said before the game that she was thrilled to perform the anthem on such a memorable day for the country.
‘Honored to be asked to sing the US National Anthem tomorrow, July 4, at the match in Philadelphia as part of the pre-game celebration of America’s 250th anniversary,’ she said on X.
She was met with some critical replies though after her performance, with one follower telling her: ‘Next time you sing the national anthem, please sing it the way it was written.
Menzel was cheered in the stadium but online, the verdict was not quite as enthusiastic
‘When you add your own flair to it, it demeans and belittles the song and the country.’
As for the game itself, France faced South American counterparts Paraguay in a knockout game. France, led by star striker Kylian Mbappe, are many people’s favorites to win the tournament altogether.
As for Paraguay, they caused a huge upset in the previous round when they knocked out Germany in a penalty shootout.
