Back-to-Back National Anthem Blunders Sound Sour Note at Copa America

6/7/2016 by Judy Cantor-Navas

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
The Uruguay soccer team prior to a Copa America group C match against Mexico at University of Phoenix Stadium on June 5, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. 

After the Chilean anthem is played at Uruguay's game, Pitbull's song interrupts Chile’s hymn the next day.

The Copa America soccer tournament has started with some sour musical notes.

Pitbull & Becky G Team Up for 2016 Copa America Official Song 'Superstar': Listen

During Sunday's game between Mexico and Uruguay at the University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the Uruguayan players had a "WTF" moment when the Chilean national anthem was played instead of their country's. The confused Uruguayans stood in quiet disbelief as the wrong music for their pre-game moment sounded in the stadium. Some players gamely mouthed some of the words to to their country’s real anthem, called “Orientales, la Patria o la Tumba," as the wrong music continued to play on. (The Uruguayan team later lost to Mexico 3-1.)

Copa organizers later sent out a statement apologizing for the gaffe, which they attributed to “human error.”

"We sincerely apologize to the Uruguayan Federation, the Uruguay National Team, the people of Uruguay and to the fans for this mistake," the statement said. “We will work with all parties involved to ensure such an error does not occur again."

In fact, just a day later, before the Chile-Argentina match at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the Chilean team and their fans were wholeheartedly singing along to their anthem (playing for the right team, this time) when it was interrupted by Pitbull shouting “Mr. Worldwide!” over the speakers.

The Chileans continued to sing on, competing with the Cuban-American star; Pitbull’s “Superstar,” featuring Becky G, is the official Copa America anthem.

This time, the Copa America producers explained that the length of the Chilean anthem track that they played had been approved by Chilean team representatives, although it was not a complete version of the national song. Still, at future games, it sounds like it would be a good idea to have someone in the control booth able to press “stop.”

Barring any technical malfunctions, Pitbull will perform his song with Becky G at the June 26 Copa America closing ceremony, to be held at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey.