“Take Me Home, Country Roads” becomes the unofficial anthem for the U.S. men’s national soccer team during the World Cup after fans start singing it at matches. Multiple reports trace how the song gained momentum from behind the scenes as well as on the pitch. Fox News reports that FIFA asks teams to submit playlists for the tournament and that a U.S. Soccer executive selects the track, helping put it in rotation as the team’s music choice. CBS Sports adds that the tradition takes off when U.S. fans belt out John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” following the U.S. team’s 2–0 win over Australia. From there, the song spreads as a recognizable crowd chant and is expected to remain part of the U.S. team’s World Cup atmosphere for the rest of its tournament run, according to CBS Sports. Across the accounts, the common thread is that the song becomes associated with USMNT matchday energy following the Australia win, while the FIFA playlist process and a U.S. Soccer decision help explain how the track entered the tournament’s soundscape.