How Team USA is inspiring the nation with its faith
Former professional soccer player and Seattle Sounders chaplain Jesse Bradley discusses the U.S. men’s national team’s historic start to the 2026 World Cup, winning its first two group stage matches since 1930. Bradley emphasizes the team’s inspiring public faith, which leads to Bible studies and prayer after the games, and how it unites Americans through soccer, a sport now growing in popularity.
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When the U.S. men’s national soccer team heard the final whistle at Lumen Field last Friday, they also heard thousands of people in the packed crowd cheering and singing after a 2-0 victory over Australia that clinched their ticket to the knockout stages of the World Cup.
But there was one specific song that rained down from the stands to the field: “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” famously sung by John Denver.
There’s an origin story behind why that song was chosen specifically for the moment when Team USA wins a World Cup match. In fact, FIFA asked teams to submit possible playlists for warm-ups, goals and victories.
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United States fans applaud before the international friendly match against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on June 6, 2026. (Daniel Bartel/USSF/Getty Images)
Well, US Soccer said it consulted with players, as well as those within the organization, about what songs should play over speakers during matches. The curated list was looking for songs that were representative of American artists and would be good sing-along tracks for the fans in the stands.
Among the list were classics like Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and Take Me Home, Country Roads.
However, England uses “Sweet Caroline” in this tournament, as does the classic Oasis song, “Wonderwall.”
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So, “Livin’ on a Prayer” remained on the playlist, but former US Soccer employee and now FIFA executive Amy Hopfinger called for “Take Me Home, Country Roads” to be specifically used.
As it played over the speakers, the crowd drowned out Denver with their collective shouts at the players. They applauded and greeted the performance of the classic folk tune in Seattle and in Los Angeles, where the USMNT won its first World Cup match: a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay.
A young American soccer fan applauds before the international friendly match between the United States and Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on June 6, 2026. (Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos)
The USMNT hopes to hear the song again on Thursday in its final group stage game against Türkiye, although the game has no significance for either team. For Team USA, their victory over Australia cemented their spot in the knockout stage and gave them victory in Group D of the group stage.
As a result, the USMNT will head to the Bay Area either way after their next match, preparing for a round of 32 matchup against a third-place team from Groups B, E, F, I or J.
United States fans applaud during the international friendly match against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on June 6, 2026. (Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images)
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Tremendous momentum has been built for the USMNT, and making it to a final group stage game without the worry of being kicked out of the tournament certainly isn’t a great feeling for a team taking advantage of its home country advantage.
They’ll expect to hear more fans singing the team’s now-viral song as they progress through the tournament.
