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The US national football team has discovered an unlikely anthem in John Denver’s classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, as jubilant players and tens of thousands of supporters have joined in post-match singalongs that have quickly become one of the most memorable images of their World Cup journey.

Even head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine tactician now based in Spain, joined in the celebration after Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, passionately singing along with his players.

Bill Danoff, who co-wrote “Country Roads”, told The Associated Press that he felt deeply honoured that the US team had adopted the song. He added that Denver, who tragically died in a plane crash in 1997, would have “loved” watching their spirited performance.

Danoff, who has recently developed a greater interest in football due to the song’s connection to the team, spoke about the excitement of the match: “It was such a thrilling game — they were a man down after a red card, but they still managed to win.”

He continued, “I thought, ‘Oh, I wish John were still around.’ John used to get so excited about moments like that. It would have been wonderful to watch that match with him.”

The John Denver estate also expressed its happiness to the Associated Press, saying it was “thrilled” to see the song’s revival during the World Cup. The estate credited its lasting appeal to a message that transcends geography and to its “simple, clear, and relatable” lyrics, making it perfect for communal singing.

“Everyone understands what ‘Take me home to the place I belong’ means,” the estate said, adding, “It isn’t just about West Virginia.”

Although the song affectionately references West Virginia, Danoff revealed its origins were actually inspired by a drive with his then-wife and co-writer Taffy Nivert along Maryland’s winding Clopper Road on their way to a family gathering in Gaithersburg, around 25 miles east of the West Virginia border.

“I just started thinking about country roads, about growing up in western New England and driving on all those little roads,” Danoff told Washington’s WRC-TV in 2020, clarifying that “it wasn’t really about Maryland or anywhere specific.”

Though he had never spent much time in West Virginia, Danoff was familiar with Appalachian music through Wheeling’s WWVA radio station, which he used to listen to as a child in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Additional inspiration came from West Virginia-born actor Chris Sarandon and members of a West Virginian commune who attended Danoff’s performances. Initially, Danoff and Nivert had planned to offer the song to Johnny Cash.

However, after playing an unfinished version for their friend John Denver one evening, he convinced them to let him record it himself. Released in 1971, the track went on to become Denver’s biggest hit and a cultural classic that has endured for generations.

“I don’t know all the ways that song has touched people, but I’m grateful to have written something meaningful to others,” Denver reflected years later.

The Athletic reported that FIFA officials intentionally added “Country Roads” to their post-match playlist to create a unifying moment between the US players and their supporters.

The song first appeared after the US’s second group-stage match — a 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle. It was an instant hit, both in the stadium and across social media, as fans delighted in watching players wave and sing along.

Midfielder Weston McKennie later remarked, “You could really feel the bond with the fans.” However, the mood was notably subdued when the song played on 25 June at Los Angeles Stadium, following a frustrating last-minute defeat to Turkey, though the loss had little impact on qualification.

Its triumphant return came on Wednesday evening in Santa Clara, California, when the US sealed their passage to the round of 16 with a commanding 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Midfielders Weston McKennie and Sebastian Berhalter were among the most enthusiastic participants, swinging their arms and leading the crowd in song. Even during matches not involving the US, “Country Roads” has often been played during hydration breaks, drawing cheers from fans who moments earlier had been booing the pause in play.

This isn’t the first time “Country Roads” has captured the hearts of sports fans. For decades, it has been a cherished tradition at West Virginia University football games, where fans sing it after home victories.

The song’s popularity has even spread internationally. NFL fans in Germany have sung it during the league’s annual games since the inaugural Munich matchup in 2022 — a tradition that may have roots in the tune’s connection to Oktoberfest celebrations. In the English Premier League, Manchester United supporters famously reworked the lyrics years ago to celebrate their home ground, Old Trafford.

While “Country Roads” has become the US team’s unofficial anthem, the England national side has found a similar moment of unity with Oasis’ “Wonderwall” during this tournament.

After England’s 4-2 opening win against Croatia, the players linked arms and sang the 1995 hit — a scene that captain Harry Kane called “one of my favourite ever moments in an England shirt.” The ritual has been repeated faithfully after each of their subsequent matches.