The NFL firmly holds the top spot in American sports, outpacing other leagues in TV ratings and popularity by a wide margin.
But here’s the kicker: outside the United States, it doesn’t come close to being the favorite. Football, or as the rest of the world knows it, “fútbol,” truly dominates on a global scale.
In an effort to step into the international scene, the NFL rolled out its “International Series,” showcasing games in various countries over the past two decades.
This year alone, they had games in Brazil, Germany, and London, with standout matches like the Chargers versus the Chiefs and the Colts against the Falcons going down to the wire.
This season, the league aimed to capture a new audience by hosting an international game in Madrid – a city boasting a football pedigree that is hard to challenge.
In light of Madrid’s strong soccer culture, the NFL wanted to impress from the get-go, especially since the teams playing—a struggling Washington Commanders and an unremarkable Miami Dolphins—didn’t have much flair.
One of the key moments of a classic NFL game is the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and for this specific occasion, they enlisted Madrid’s own Karina Pasian to perform.
Oh, and she absolutely nailed the performance:
Unlike many recent discussions around anthem protests, Pasian handled the song beautifully, much to the audience’s delight. However, it wasn’t her voice that ignited discussions—it was her choice of outfit.
Comments flooded in on social media about her attire. One user expressed a supportive view about bringing sports to a global audience but questioned, “Karina’s singing was lovely, but seriously, what’s with the outfit?”
Similar sentiments popped up from others within the online community:
There were lots more reactions, as chronicled by the New York Post. Some views captured the mixed reception:
“The outfit was too much, but her voice is something else,” said one fan, while another lamented, “Why dress like a cabaret singer? Takes away from the meaning of the anthem.”
Ultimately, many fans seemed to lean toward applauding Pasian’s singing abilities despite their critiques of what she decided to wear.
In this match, the Dolphins squeaked out a 16-13 win against the Commanders in overtime, keeping Miami’s hopes alive at 4-7 while the Commanders fell to 3-8.
