Canadian soccer fans boo U.S. anthem amid trade dispute

Soccer fans in Vancouver and Montreal booed the United States national anthem during Major League Soccer matches following a breakdown in trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S.

At BC Place in Vancouver, spectators jeered during the performance of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ before a match between the Whitecaps and FC Dallas. Similar protests occurred at Stade Saputo during a game between CF Montreal and the LA Galaxy.

The demonstrations followed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to suspend trade talks and recall negotiators to Ottawa. In response, the United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars in Canadian exports. Carney stated he walked away from a ‘bad trade deal’ and pledged that Canada would match the U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar.