# Three Lions, Bafuna bafuna, Blackstars, Orange: What are we (USA) called (World cup ?) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 28, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835 "2010-06-28T20:15:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/1 "2010-06-28T20:15:14Z")
So, in watching a few games this year, I’ve heard announcers refer to various teams by their nickname, which usually makes sense, but I don’t think I’ve heard a nickname for the USA. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/2 "2010-06-28T20:50:39Z")
I was going to suggest ‘losers’ but that would just be mean. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/3 "2010-06-28T21:12:59Z")
What’s wrong with “Yanks”? That’s been our nickname for 240 years! ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/4 "2010-06-29T00:35:14Z")
Usually it’s “The Yanks.” I saw some american fans holdings signs saying things like “We are the Yanks” and “go Yanks” and such. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/5 "2010-06-29T00:38:42Z")
I heard one commentator refer to us as the “stars and stripes” when we were against Ghana (they were the black stars). The guy said something like “the stars and stripes against the black stars…” I prefer Yanks. Quicker and easier to say. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/6 "2010-06-30T04:09:53Z")
There’s no official nickname. This year may be the first time very many people have thought one was needed. I’d recommend “Eagles.” ---
**Author:** ![ekweizn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7c8e57/32.png) [@ekweizn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekweizn)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/7 "2010-06-30T06:41:59Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > There’s no official nickname. This year may be the first time very many people have thought one was needed. > > I’d recommend “Eagles.” Nigeria has dibs on Super Eagles. We should go with Ultra Super (US) Eagles. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/8 "2010-06-30T07:40:58Z")
I’d go with just Eagles, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/9 "2010-06-30T07:48:34Z")
According to Wikipedia, its both “The Yanks” and “The Stars and Stripes”. If you want “Eagles” to catch on, you better start spreading the word. Although you risk being subjected to impromtu chanting renditions of “Hotel California” from the audience, and believe me, that would make Vuvuzuelas look like nothing. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/10 "2010-06-30T09:32:14Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > I’d go with just Eagles, I think. Given our most recent series of goalkeepers: Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, Tim Howard, and even back ups Marcus Hahnemann and Brad Guzan, I’d go with Bald Eagles. Plus “The Eagles” is a pop/rock group. Still, we’re the Yanks. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/11 "2010-06-30T17:20:14Z")
I read one the other day that was pretty darn funny - The Septics. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/12 "2010-06-30T17:58:31Z")
The US national rugby team has already laid claim to “Eagles.” I’d go with “Stars and Stripes.” A bit long, but it hits the mark. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/13 "2010-06-30T18:29:19Z")
BTW, for you Americans who haven’t heard the Cockney rhyming slang used above (I’m not sure where I heard it myself), septic tank = Yank: Americans = septics. Funnay!!! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/14 "2010-06-30T20:25:39Z")
Paper Tigers. ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/15 "2010-07-01T01:16:37Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > BTW, for you Americans who haven’t heard the Cockney rhyming slang used above (I’m not sure where I heard it myself), septic tank = Yank: Americans = septics. > > Funnay!!! Cockney has the word “cock” in it, no rhyming slang needed. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/16 "2010-07-01T04:54:34Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > BTW, for you Americans who haven’t heard the Cockney rhyming slang used above (I’m not sure where I heard it myself), septic tank = Yank: Americans = septics. > > Funnay!!! Septics = seppos in Australia. BTW, the US union team has already taken “The Eagles” > **[United States men's national rugby union team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_rugby_union_team)** > > The United States men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in men's international rugby union competitions. USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States, and is a member of Rugby Americas North, one of six regional governing bodies under World Rugby. Until rugby returned to Olympic competition, with sevens at the 2016 Rio Games, the United States was the reigning Olympic rugby champion, having won gold at t... ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/17 "2010-07-01T13:11:01Z")
Proposed nickname for the U.S. team: Jozy and the Pussycats. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/18 "2010-07-01T14:34:54Z")
I think the US team is generally known as “Who?” ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/19 "2010-07-03T23:27:35Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > According to Wikipedia, its both “The Yanks” and “The Stars and Stripes”. If you want “Eagles” to catch on, you better start spreading the word. Confidentially… you can’t always go by Wikipedia. Wikipedia articles on sports teams list all kinds of fleeting or secondary references which don’t meet the standards of official sanction or permanence that the OP’s mentions do. Besides its internal problems for some sections of the U.S., “Yanks” already stands, in certain other countries, as a nickname for Americans generally. “Stars and Stripes” is both the flag and a particular flag, and perhaps tertiarily the country generally. So I consider those unusable as actual team names. They will continue to be used as the colloquial references that they are, but they can’t be analogous to Three Lions or Bafana Bafana. However, I guess the rugby team’s claim is a problem–though we Americans seem to be okay with our pro sports teams sometimes duplicating each others’ names, apparently that isn’t done among international sports? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835/20 "2010-07-05T06:40:16Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > “Stars and Stripes” is both the flag and a particular flag, Oops, no. My brain was fuzzy. Both “the Star-Spangled Banner” and “Old Glory” are actual, particular American flags (the Fort McHenry flag of 1814, and the ship flag of William Driver in the 1830s, respectively) as well as nicknames for the flag. “Stars and Stripes” apparently does not refer to any specific real flag. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-lions-bafuna-bafuna-blackstars-orange-what-are-we-usa-called-world-cup/544835.md?page=2)