US Soccer just announced “All persons representing a Federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented,” the new policy now reads.
Further, the federation had previously gone on record to explain its reasoning.
“Representing your country is a privilege and honor for any player or coach that is associated with U.S. Soccer’s National Team. Therefore, our national anthem has particular significance for U.S. Soccer,” it said in a statement in September 2016 responding to Rapinoe’s protests.