With a full docket of international soccer awaiting fans this summer, we’re going to hear plenty of national anthems. This begs the question, who has the longest national anthem?
The anthems played before soccer games are sometimes shortened versions of full national anthems. For example, the full Greece national anthem — the longest national anthem in the world — has 158 verses. At international sporting events the shortened version lasts just under one minute. Sometimes fans will go acapella to sing further verses after the instrumental finishes like in Brazil and Chile. For this list only the instrumentals will be counted.
The upcoming Euros and Copa América will feature 34 national anthems that fans get to sit through and enjoy. Italy got things started with a passionate rendition.
Pure passion from the Italian players ahead of #EURO2020.
No one does it quite like they do pic.twitter.com/upDweK0O41— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 11, 2021
For some ungodly reason I listened to all 34 — of the shortened instrumentals — and have compiled the list of shortest to longest national anthems. Please enjoy the following list.
For a point of reference, the U.S. anthem played before sporting events lasts about one minute and 10 seconds (1:10).
Euros/Copa América Anthems From Shortest To Longest
34. (0:40) England
33. (0:50) Spain
32. (0:50) Netherlands
31. (0:52) Belgium
30. (0:55) Finland
29. (0:56) France
28. (0:56) Peru
27. (1:03) Argentina
26. (1:03) Germany
25. (1:04) Czech Republic
24. (1:06) Croatia
23. (1:08) Brazil
22. (1:08) Turkey
21. (1:09) Denmark
20. (1:10) Russia
19. (1:10) Switzerland
18. (1:10) Ecuador
17. (1:11) Austria
16. (1:11) Sweden
15. (1:16) Scotland
14. (1:16) Poland
13. (1:17) Portugal
12. (1:20) Wales
11. (1:20) Hungary
10. (1:21) Paraguay
9. (1:24) Slovakia
8. (1:26) Colombia
7. (1:27) Chile
6. (1:28) Bolivia
5. (1:29) Venezuela
4. (1:29) North Macedonia
3. (1:30) Ukraine
2. (1:33) Italy
1. (1:36) Uruguay
There you have it. After listening to all these anthems I’m feeling quite patriotic for 34 different countries.
