The U.S. women’s team opened their Olympic campaign with a 2-0 win against New Zealand that gave the locals a chance to voice their displeasure with Hope Solo.
The U.S. goalkeeper has been vocal about her concern over the Zika virus in Brazil — threatening back in February to not participate in the Olympics and two weeks ago tweeted pictures of a rather large bug repellant arsenal that would make her “#zikaproof” in Brazil.
If anyone in the village forgets to pack repellent, come and see me…#DeptOfDefense #zikaproof pic.twitter.com/x8RdUV6M7c
— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) July 22, 2016
Not sharing this!!! Get your own! #zikaproof #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/y3d8hnuEjk
— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) July 22, 2016
Brazilians apparently have not taken kindly to her Zika focus, though. During the match, they booed her every touch and shouted “Zika!” in unison whenever she would take a goal kick/drop kick.
A Hope Solo postou foto fazendo piada com o Zika vírus. Claro que a torcida grita OOOOO ZIKA quando ela joga hahaha pic.twitter.com/bn8tGRN53U
— Dudu (@Dudu) August 3, 2016
Solo tried to avoid this response upon arrival in Brazil by apologizing for her comments, but that apparently wasn’t enough.
When asked about the reception after the match, Solo took it in stride, telling NBC Sports, “I’d rather have that than [be able to] hear a needle drop.”
Never one to back down in the face of controversy, Solo will likely wear her mosquito hat in goal during the U.S.’s next match.