College World Series National Anthem interrupted on-field by Palestinian protestor

At long last, the 2025 Men’s College World Series finally began on Friday afternoon. In the first of a potential 15 games in the event, Coastal Carolina and Arizona kicked off the festivities in Omaha.

Before the game could begin, however, a pro-Palestinian protestor made their presence known during the National Anthem. For the duration of the Anthem, the protestor stood with the Palestine flag draped over their shoulders.

Palestinian protestor during the National Anthem here at the College World Series. #MCWS pic.twitter.com/G1fvJqhb9f

— Will Dawson (@willdawsonTV) June 13, 2025

Friday’s protest is just the latest in a long line of sports-related pro-Palestine protests that have occurred over the past year. A performer raised Palestine and Sudan flags during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show, pro-Palestine demonstrators disrupted last year’s Wimbledon event and London and May’s South East Women’s Regional Football League Regional Cup Final was abandoned due to “a perceived risk to safety” when fans refused to remove flags and banners showing support for Palestine.

The protests relate back to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing war in the Gaza strip and Israel. Many prominent sports figures, including the NBA’s Kyrie Irving and MMA fighter Islam Makhachev, have shown support for Palestine in recent years.

2025 CWS bracket

Friday, June 13

Game 1 – Coastal Carolina vs. Arizona, 1 p.m. CT on ESPN
Game 2 – Oregon State vs. Louisville, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN

Saturday, June 14

Game 3 – UCLA vs. Murray State, 1 p.m. CT on ESPN
Game 4 – Arkansas vs. LSU, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN

Sunday, June 15

Game 5 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 1 p.m. CT on ESPN
Game 6 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN

Monday, June 16

Game 7 – Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4, 1 p.m. CT on ESPN
Game 8 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN

Tuesday, June 17

Game 9 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 6, 1 p.m. CT on ESPN
Game 10 – Winner of Game 7 vs. Loser of Game 8, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN

Wednesday, June 18

Game 11 – Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9, 1 p.m. CT on ESPN
Game 12 – Winner of Game 8 vs Winner of Game 10, 6 p.m. CT on ESPN

Thursday, June 19

Game 13 (if necessary) – Winner of Game 11 vs. Loser of Game 11, TBD on TBD
Game 14 (if necessary) – Winner of Game 12 vs Loser of Game 12, TBD on TBD

Saturday, June 21

MCWS Finals Game 1 – Winner of Bracket 1 vs. Winner of Bracket 2, 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN

Sunday, June 22

MCWS Finals Game 2 – Winner of Bracket 1 vs. Winner of Bracket 2, 1:30 p.m. CT on ABC

Monday, June 23

MCWS Finals Game 3 (if necessary) – Winner of Bracket 1 vs. Winner of Bracket 2, 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN

More on the 2025 College World Series

Some history is being made with this year’s College World Series field. In the Super Regional era, dating back to 1999, there has always been at least one repeat visitor. But as Aria Gerson of The Tennessean put out on social media, a completely fresh slate of teams is making their way to Omaha.

“2025 will be the first time in the super regional era (since 1999) that no team that made it to the College World Series the year before will be back in Omaha,’ Gerson said via X.

Six different conferences will be represented as well. Nobody has more than two, as the SEC has a pair of teams still alive to win a national championship. However, the former Pac-12 might have something to say about that, seeing Oregon State and UCLA in the field.

On3’s Steven Samra contributed to this report.