How 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' became the World Cup anthem of Team USA amid hot start

As the U.S. men’s nationalist shot squad heard the last whistle stroke astatine Lumen Field this past Friday, they besides heard thousands successful the sold-out assemblage cheering and singing pursuing a 2-0 triumph implicit Australia that punched their summons to the knockout stages of the World Cup.

But determination was 1 circumstantial opus that rained down from the stands and onto the pitch: "Take Me Home, Country Roads," famously sang by John Denver.

There’s an root communicative down wherefore that opus specifically was chosen for the infinitesimal wherever Team USA wins a World Cup match. FIFA really asked teams to taxable imaginable playlists for warmups, goals and wins.

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Fans of the United States cheer earlier the planetary affable lucifer against Germany astatine Soldier Field successful Chicago, Ill., connected June 6, 2026. (Daniel Bartel/USSF/Getty Images)

Well, U.S. Soccer said it consulted with the players, arsenic good arsenic those wrong the organization, astir what songs should ringing retired from the speakers during matches. The curated database was looking for songs that were some typical of American artists and would beryllium bully sing-along tracks for fans successful the stands.

Among the database were classics similar Bon Jovi’s "Livin’ connected a Prayer," Neil Diamond’s "Sweet Caroline," and Take Me Home, Country Roads.

"Sweet Caroline," though, is utilized by England successful this tournament, arsenic is the classical Oasis track, "Wonderwall."

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So, "Livin’ connected a Prayer" remained connected the playlist, but erstwhile U.S. Soccer worker and present FIFA executive, Amy Hopfinger, made the telephone for "Take Me Home, Country Roads" to specifically beryllium used.

As it played implicit the speakers, the assemblage drowned retired Denver with its corporate bellowing to the players. They clapped and saluted the rendition of the classical people tune successful Seattle arsenic good arsenic Los Angeles, wherever the USMNT won its archetypal World Cup lucifer — a 4-1 dominating triumph implicit Paraguay.

A young American shot instrumentality cheers earlier the planetary affable lucifer betwixt the United States and Germany astatine Soldier Field successful Chicago, Illinois, connected June 6, 2026. (Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos)

The USMNT is hoping to perceive the opus again connected Thursday successful their last radical signifier lucifer against Türkiye, though the lucifer has nary value for either team. For Team USA, their triumph implicit Australia cemented their spot successful the knockout signifier arsenic good arsenic giving them the Group D triumph for the radical stages.

As a result, the USMNT volition beryllium heading to the Bay Area either mode pursuing their adjacent match, preparing for a Round of 32 matchup against a third-place squad from either Groups B, E, F, I oregon J.

Fans of the United States cheer during the planetary affable lucifer against Germany astatine Soldier Field successful Chicago, Ill., connected June 6, 2026. (Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images)

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Tremendous momentum has been built for the USMNT, and going into a last radical signifier lucifer without the interest of being bounced from the tourney is surely nary greater feeling for a squad utilizing their home-country advantage.

They volition anticipation to perceive much fans singing their now-viral squad opus arsenic they proceed to beforehand successful the tournament.  

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