The 2023 FIFA World Cup was a historic moment for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT), as they made it to the quarterfinals for the first time in decades. But it wasn’t just their on-field performance that caught the attention of the internet. Fans around the world took to social media to create hilarious memes that celebrated the USMNT’s success and poked fun at their opponents. In this article, we take a look back at some of the best USA World Cup memes that went viral in 2023.
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The “DeAndre Yedlin Running” Meme
One of the most popular memes to come out of the World Cup was the “DeAndre Yedlin Running” meme. Yedlin, a speedy right-back for the USMNT, was captured by cameras sprinting down the field during a match against Germany. Fans quickly turned the image into a meme, adding captions like “When you hear there’s free food in the locker room” and “When you realize you left your phone in the locker room.”
Twitter user @SoccerMemes was one of the first to share the meme, and it quickly went viral. “I never expected the DeAndre Yedlin Running meme to blow up like it did,” they told us. “But it just goes to show how creative and hilarious soccer fans can be.”
The “Alexi Lalas Rant” Meme
During the World Cup, Fox Sports analyst Alexi Lalas went on a passionate rant about the USMNT’s performance, calling out individual players and demanding more from the team. Fans immediately turned his rant into a meme, adding captions like “When you ask for a raise and your boss says ‘we’ll see'” and “When you realize you left the oven on.”
One fan, who goes by @SoccerSass on Twitter, shared a particularly funny version of the meme. “I added a clip of Kermit the Frog flailing his arms around to the Alexi Lalas rant and it just took off,” they said. “I think people appreciated the humor in a serious moment.”
The “Christian Pulisic Celebration” Meme
Christian Pulisic, the star midfielder for the USMNT, scored a crucial goal in the team’s quarterfinal match against Brazil. His celebration, which involved him sliding on his knees and pumping his fists in the air, was captured by cameras and turned into a meme. Fans added captions like “When you get a promotion at work” and “When you find out your ex is dating someone uglier than you.”
One fan, who goes by @SoccerMemeLord on Instagram, said they were inspired by Pulisic’s passion. “He’s such a talented player and his celebration was just so infectious,” they said. “I knew I had to turn it into a meme.”
The Legacy of the USA World Cup Meme
Years after the 2023 World Cup, the USA World Cup memes continue to be shared and enjoyed by fans around the world. For many, they represent a moment of joy and humor in an otherwise stressful and intense tournament.
“I still see the DeAndre Yedlin Running meme pop up on my timeline every now and then,” said @SoccerMemes. “It’s amazing to think that something so small can have such a big impact on people.”
The legacy of the USA World Cup meme is a testament to the power of soccer to bring people together and create moments of joy and laughter. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, there’s no denying the impact that these memes had on the 2023 World Cup and beyond.
