Portugal is the clearest outlier in the analysis. The report says its anthem contains 11 references to violence per 100 words and 12 calls to arms, giving it the highest concentration of military language among the nations examined.
The song was originally written as a protest against Britain, according to the report, placing its aggressive tone within a specific period of national resistance. More broadly, the report says all but eight countries included some reference to conflict, whether through soldiers, weapons, battles or appeals to fight.
Spain appears most often as the named enemy. The report identifies references to Spain in three national anthems, a pattern linked to revolutionary independence struggles in former colonies and territories.
Ecuador’s anthem reportedly recalls a defeated lion roaring in frustration, while the Dutch version is more direct in its hostility towards Spain. The wider count depends on interpretation, however, because many anthems use poetic language rather than naming an opponent. Once historical references are included, the report says Spain remains the most common target, with a likely reference to Britain also appearing in the United States anthem.
Not every anthem turns the pre-match ceremony into a military procession. The report says Canada’s anthem contains no reference to conflict and was updated in 2018 to make its official lyrics more gender-neutral.
Germany’s focuses on unity, freedom and happiness, while Japan’s looks towards the emperor’s long reign. France, Uruguay and Tunisia use stronger themes of danger or martyrdom, and Mexico’s anthem reflects invasion, territorial loss and bloodshed.
The next World Cup will offer another reminder that anthems are not just background music: they are compact historical documents, and their words can reveal as much about old rivalries as any fixture list.