'Country Roads' unites World Cup fans with USMNT sing-along
The U.S. men's national team came up short of extending its World Cup group stage win streak after a 3-2 loss to Turkey on Thursday, but that didn't stop supporters from uniting in harmony to sing what has become an unofficial anthem among American fans -- "Take Me Home, Country Roads."
John Denver's 1971 hit -- an ode to West Virginia and America as a whole -- has been on repeat at U.S. games throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, being blasted through the sold out stadiums at the end of each match as the team salutes the fans.
The musical moment of appreciation between the players and patrons has echoed through the stadiums of Los Angeles and Seattle.
U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams told ESPN that has been the most memorable moment of the tournament so far, "when everyone's singing 'Country Roads' -- that kind of epitomizes what America is."
Despite the one-goal difference on Thursday, soccer enthusiasts like Cristin Dunn came together with perfect strangers for the ultimate sing-along.
"Even after the loss, no one left. And that was what was so beautiful," Dunn told ABC News. "I've been to so many NFL games and NBA games and MLB games and people are making a mad dash to the exit, that is the exact opposite of what happened."
When "Country Roads" started to play and Dunn said it was "so beautiful" to hear "international fans and fans from across the country" alike representing West Virginia on the global stage.
Unlike other iconic American stadium sing-alongs like "Sweet Caroline" at Fenway Park, Dunn said the World Cup moment held a greater meaning.
"It's a big reflection of how incredibly beautiful this country truly is when we all unite together and we rise together instead of divide," she said. "I was just outside myself -- I almost couldn't sing it because I was so affected by just how powerful that was and to hear that song being sung as a representation of being an American. It's a moment I'll never forget."
The sing-alongs have spread like wildfire on social media, with thousands of videos of fans harmonizing to the chorus at the top of their lungs.
The official U.S. Soccer TikTok posted a video of midfielder Weston McKennie singing along from the pitch, clapping and strumming an air guitar, while looking up at the fans echoing the chorus after the team's 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle on June 19.
"Country Roads" was included on the USMNT playlist submitted to FIFA, thanks to Amy Hopfinger -- a former longtime executive at U.S. Soccer who now leads FIFA as the chief strategy and planning officer, according to Major League Soccer.
ABC News has reached out to FIFA and U.S. Soccer for comment.
According to TikTok, there are nearly 73,000 posts with the hashtag USMNT and more than 8 million each with World Cup and FIFA World Cup hashtags.
One TikTok user who has shared dozens of World Cup videos soared to viral acclaim with over 3.5 million views on her vantage point from the field in Seattle as the crowd sang "Country Roads."
The U.S. men who finished atop the Group D table with six points already cemented their spot in the round of 32, prior to Thursday's loss.
The team will face Bosnia and Herzegovina next on Wednesday, July 1.
Popular Reads
ABC News Live