John Denver’s family ‘thrilled’ as Country Roads becomes US team’s World Cup anthem | OneFootball

The US national team has found an unexpected anthem in John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads”, with jubilant players and tens of thousands of fans joining in a post-match singalong that has become a defining image of their World Cup campaign.

Even coach Mauricio Pochettino, an Argentine native residing in Spain, embraced the tradition after Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, belting out the lyrics as he celebrated with his team.

Bill Danoff, co-writer of "Country Roads”, expressed his honor to The Associated Press that the US team has adopted the song, suggesting that Denver, who tragically died in a 1997 plane crash, would have "relished" watching their latest performance.

Danoff, who admits to becoming a more avid soccer fan recently thanks to the song's connection, remarked on the thrilling nature of the match: "It was such an exciting game — they were down a player with a red card, but they still won."

He added, "I thought, ‘Gee, I wish John was still here.’ John got super excited about stuff like that, and it would have been fun to watch that game with him."

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Mauricio Pochettino joined in the singing on Wednesday (Reuters)

The John Denver estate also conveyed its delight to the AP, stating it was "thrilled" by the song’s World Cup resurgence. They attributed its enduring appeal to a message that transcends geography and "simple, clear, and relatable" lyrics, making it ideal for a communal sing-along.

"Everyone knows what ‘Take me home to the place I belong’ is about," the estate affirmed, emphasizing, "It’s not limited to West Virginia."

Despite its heartfelt lyrical embrace of West Virginia, Danoff revealed the song's true genesis lay in a drive he and his then-wife, co-writer Taffy Nivert, took along Maryland's winding Clopper Road, en route to a family reunion in Gaithersburg, approximately 25 miles east of the West Virginia border.

"I just started thinking, country roads, I started thinking of me growing up in western New England and going on all these small roads," Danoff recounted to Washington's WRC-TV in 2020, clarifying, "it didn’t have anything to do with Maryland or anyplace."

Though Danoff had not spent significant time in West Virginia, he was familiar with Appalachian music from Wheeling's WWVA radio station, which he listened to as a child in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Further inspiration came from West Virginia-born actor Chris Sarandon and members of a West Virginian commune who attended his performances. Danoff and Nivert initially intended to offer the song to Johnny Cash.

However, after playing an unfinished rendition for their friend John Denver one evening, the singer-songwriter persuaded them to let him record it. Released in 1971, the track became Denver's biggest hit and has remained a cultural touchstone for decades.

"I don’t know all of the ways that song must have touched people, but I’m grateful that I have somehow been able to say something that has meaning for others," Denver himself reflected years later.

The Athletic reported that Fifa officials strategically added "Country Roads" to their post-game playlist, aiming to foster a unifying moment between the US team and its fanbase.

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USA are through to the last-16 of the World Cup (AP)

The song debuted after the US's second match, following a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle. It was an instant success, both within the stadium and across social media, as fans enthusiastically embraced the sight of players waving and singing along.

Midfielder Weston McKennie later told reporters, "You could feel the connection with the fans." However, the song's reception was notably subdued on June 25 at Los Angeles Stadium, played after a deflating, albeit insignificant, last-minute loss to Turkey.

Yet, its vibrant return came Wednesday evening in Santa Clara, California, following the US's decisive victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, which secured their advancement to the round of 16.

Midfielders McKennie and Sebastian Berhalter were particularly animated, swinging their arms wildly as they serenaded fans across the field. Even in matches not featuring the US team, "Country Roads" has frequently been played during hydration breaks, often eliciting roaring approval from fans who, moments earlier, had been booing the interruption.

This isn't the first time "Country Roads" has resonated with sports enthusiasts. It has long been a fixture at West Virginia University football games, where Mountaineer fans traditionally serenade their team after home victories.

The song has even crossed the Atlantic, with fans singing it during the NFL's annual games in Germany since the inaugural Munich event in 2022, a tradition perhaps stemming from its popularity during Oktoberfest celebrations. In the English Premier League, Manchester United supporters famously adapted the lyrics years ago to celebrate their own "home" at Old Trafford stadium.

While "Country Roads" serves as the US's unofficial anthem, the England national team has similarly embraced Oasis' "Wonderwall" during this tournament.

Following their 4-2 opening victory against Croatia, English players stood arm-in-arm, singing the 1995 hit – a moment captain Harry Kane described as "one of my favorite ever moments in an England shirt." This post-match tradition has been faithfully repeated after every subsequent game.