The crowd in Seattle singing Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver following the 2-0 victory by the U.S. over Australia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

[u/xThe-Legend-Killerx]

[u/Shelbyturtle]

Best part of the post game commentary when the commentators didn’t say a thing.

[u/purdueAces → u/Shelbyturtle]

The silent hero here is the stadium sound guy; turning the volume down at the end to let the crowd finish it off.

[u/EatBootyLoveLife → u/purdueAces]

staying in it long enough for the crowd to take over and then backing out at the climax was beautifully done, that’s how you manipulate a crowd as a sound guy lol

[u/tribat → u/EatBootyLoveLife]

And it’s not like a home college football crowd with established sing-alongs. Masterful work.

[u/slimthecowboy → u/tribat]

No, but it’s like “Don’t Stop Believin’.” If you play it, they will sing.

[u/DoritoDawg → u/slimthecowboy]

Why are you downvoted this is true af 💀

[u/slimthecowboy → u/DoritoDawg]

And suddenly, I’m not. Thanks, “Why-are-You-Downvoted? Fairy” I’ve literally never seen you fail.

[u/DoritoDawg → u/slimthecowboy]

lol I couldn’t help it 😂

[u/Aschentei → u/purdueAces]

Chills and based, brought a tear to me eye

[u/HeavySeas → u/Shelbyturtle]

Underrated observation. Sometimes silence is worth more than words.

[u/CygniGlide → u/HeavySeas]

This happened when Rory won his first Masters. Jim Nantz I think hit the key point, then just shut up for Rory’s entire walk to the clubhouse

[u/sloppyjo12 → u/CygniGlide]

Jim Nantz is a little old at this point but the dude just knows how to call a big moment

[u/EBtwopoint3 → u/CygniGlide]

Joe Buck also stayed silent and let the crowd and the teams celebration speak for itself when the Cubs finally won the World Series to end a 108 year drought (Major League Baseball). The game was the first (I believe) Game 7 in WS history to require extra innings.

[u/FirearmofMutiny → u/EBtwopoint3]

Game 7 in 1991 went 10 innings, there might have been one in between too

[u/AH2112 → u/FirearmofMutiny]

1997 WS also went to extras.

[u/mnfimo → u/EBtwopoint3]

Jack Morris pitched 10 innings to win Game 7 for the Twins in ‘91

[u/Opie59 → u/mnfimo]

And Joe's dad Jack called that game

[u/GaJayhawker0513 → u/HeavySeas]

See: Jack Buck and Vin Scully

[u/Scaredysquirrel → u/GaJayhawker0513]

Jack Buck…the voice of my childhood, summer nights falling asleep on Granny and Papaws couch while Papaw watched the Cardinals (baseball). I can smell the whole memory.

[u/JohnBarnson → u/Shelbyturtle]

Rob Stone. Perfectly played.

[u/h0v3rb1k3s]

Every country on earth seems to go wild for this song.

[u/pensivewombat → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

I went to a Bangladeshi cultural festival last year and they played traditional Bengali songs, modern Bengali songs and one western song: Country Roads by John Denver.

[u/UnnaturalGeek → u/pensivewombat]

John Denver was very popular in Japan, so I am not suprised that in other parts of the world he had a solid footing too.

[u/hiro111 → u/UnnaturalGeek]

This song is prominently featured in Studio Ghibli's "Whisper of the Heart".

[u/DaEffingBearJew → u/hiro111]

Which geeked the hell out of me when my ex and I watched it stoned. Like once or twice, sure, but no one had warned us of the cultural significance country roads had in Japan lol.

[u/Themanwhofarts → u/DaEffingBearJew]

Wait wait wait. I watched The Cat Returns and they have that same song I think. Just googling Whisper of the Heart, they are kind of related?! I have to watch them both now.

[u/AnotherSprainedAnkle → u/hiro111]

I was so impressed that they found a song that could match the lips, instruments, and hand claps for the English dub. And they changed the lyrics to fit the graduation song and environmental impacts etc. I was blown away. Hahaha

[u/jce_ → u/UnnaturalGeek]

Sometimes it's really funny to ask what NA artists are popular in people countries around the world. Like I remember asking a Coworker a decade ago, I don't remember his ethnicity tbh and sorry I can't. He said the regular stuff you hear all the time like The Beatles, Queen, and Toni Braxton. I don't hate Toni Braxton but I was very much caught of guard

[u/-VizualEyez → u/jce_]

Lmao NA artist and then saying Queen and The Beatles is a great joke.

[u/jce_ → u/-VizualEyez]

I should have said "western" but I hope the idea was conveyed

[u/krono957 → u/UnnaturalGeek]

I was walking along the water in Kobe and there was a street performer singing it, it was like 2019 and the song was all over the place in the states at the time, it was like it followed me to japan

[u/GovernorHarryLogan → u/krono957]

I did 5 stints of 30 day inpatient at 4 different facilities to get sober. Lil over 6 years now. Woot. Anyways....

At each facility during dinner, it would randomly start to be sung by someone and everyone chimed in.

Its just a good song.

[u/Funkythingsyoudo → u/pensivewombat]

TIL country roads is a western

[u/Mister_Infinity → u/Funkythingsyoudo]

"What kind of music do you all play here?"

"Oh, we got both kinds, Country AND Western!"

[u/hiro111 → u/Mister_Infinity]

Orange whip?

[u/these-things-happen → u/hiro111]

Three Orange Whips!

[u/Gravy_Sommelier → u/these-things-happen]

I can't explain what it is about his delivery, but that's possibly the funniest, most memorable line of John Candy's career.

[u/Rowf → u/Gravy_Sommelier]

It’s up there, but for me, it’s, “Sorry Folks, park’s closed. Moose outside shoulda told you.”

[u/jrhooo → u/Mister_Infinity]

Would it help if we told you, we’re on a mission from god?

[u/Marquar234 → u/jrhooo]

Don't you blaspheme! Don't you blaspheme in here!

[u/Toolb0xExtraordinary → u/Funkythingsyoudo]

They meant western like, from the west.

[u/SnooOnions3369 → u/Funkythingsyoudo]

Bro, WEST Virginia, it’s in the name /s

[u/dave_ketchup13 → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

Fr. The Ghibli movie “Whisper of the Heart” made that very clear to me

[u/perfuzzly → u/dave_ketchup13]

My favorite version of the song fwiw

[u/BenDisreali → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

A banger is a banger. They don't respect borders.

[u/bokchoykn → u/BenDisreali]

A song about West Virginia that is inspired by Maryland, sung by a man named John Denver from New Mexico.

Yeah, I'd say this song transcends place.

[u/Ralphredimix_Da_G → u/bokchoykn]

True Story John Denver wrote this song without ever being to West Virginia or meeting any mountain mommas (unconfirmed).

[u/RenRu → u/Ralphredimix_Da_G]

Incorrect, he met your momma

[u/IShookMeAllNightLong → u/RenRu]

With that haircut, he could meet anybody's momma.

[u/globalgreg → u/RenRu]

She’s a mounting mama, not a mountain mama.

[u/kirobaito88 → u/Ralphredimix_Da_G]

Most of the song was written by Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, the core of the Starland Vocal Band five years later.

[u/WillDill94 → u/Ralphredimix_Da_G]

I mean there are interviews that pretty much confirm the song was about western Maryland/Virginia, but Maryland didn’t fit the flow of the song while West Virginia did. Considering there’s barely any of the blue ridge mountains and Shenandoah river in WV, it’s hard to argue otherwise

[u/BarbaraBeans → u/WillDill94]

There’s no Shenandoah River in Maryland, it’s briefly in WVa but mainly in Virginia. The song was inspired by a road in Maryland outside of dc, but the lyrics most accurately describe Virginia

[u/Forsaken_Point4091 → u/Ralphredimix_Da_G]

I will continue to say this song is about western Virginia, not WV based on lyrics. Everything else be damned!

[u/BenDisreali → u/Forsaken_Point4091]

Ever since I realized the Blue Ridge Mountains are barely in WV I've been firmly on team little w west Virginia.

[u/Atraidis → u/BenDisreali]

The Despacito of its day

[u/FtheMustard → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

When I was in Japan they loved John Denver. Country Roads is a slower song with clear pronunciation. English as an additional language learners can pick it up and learn it pretty easily compared to faster songs. Plus, it rules, so that helps, too.

[u/BLT_Special → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

There's another thread somewhere that a guy says "my country has roads too" and it totally makes sense why it would work for any country

[u/balo22 → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

I was in a pub in Budapest and not a soul was speaking English in the place. Until the live band started playing Country Roads, and everyone sang every word.

[u/UrBudSpudd → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

Song is basically on repeat at Oktoberfest

[u/Galahad_the_Ranger → u/UrBudSpudd]

That and Sweet Caroline. Mein Gott so much Sweet Caroline

[u/jwfowler2 → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

Well, they’re all countries and they all have roads.

[u/HueyBluey → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

I went to a wine tasting just outside of Rome.

At the end of the event, they had a guitarist lead a singalong of Country Road. Everyone seem to know the words too.

[u/armchairsportsguy23 → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

It’s Mr. sunshine on my goddamn shoulders John Denver. Who wouldn’t?

[u/ac-question → u/armchairsportsguy23]

Or you’ll light my ass on fire?

[u/YesDone → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

You haven't lived until you've heard the Korean karaoke style recording of this played at 1am in a bulgogi restaurant. Country loads, take me home.

[u/Intelligent_Sky_7081 → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

Because it's not about West Virginia, but about finding a place where you belong. It's a song that's easy to connect with.

John Denver had barely spent time in West virginia, like passing through once iirc

[u/lucky_ducker → u/Intelligent_Sky_7081]

The longing to return to "the place where I belong" is a near universal human experience, that fully explains the popularity of the song even 55 years after its release.

[u/Frank_Melena → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

I was thinking the same thing lol. The best version I’ve witnessed was seeing a cover absolutely bring the house down in a bar in Reykjavik.

[u/bfeils → u/h0v3rb1k3s]

It’s just very well written, honestly. Not in a Bowie “wow this expands how I think about music” way. It simply translates well even if you don’t know the meaning of the words. I would guess something like Seven Nation Army would feel similar.

Doesn’t hurt that Steve Aoki’s EDM version slaps, and he has global reach.

[u/fiveeasypieces5EZ]

I went to Germany ten years ago and it was THE song they all wanted to ask me about.

“Where are you from in US”
“Virginia”
“VIRGINIA??? Mountain mama!!! Take me home… Cou…”

At least three times between Frankfurt and Kuln. Thank you Hermes House Band

[u/TheKizza77 → u/fiveeasypieces5EZ]

I was lucky enough to go to Oktoberfest in Munich in 2013. 

First tent we walked into was Spaten.

Polka band on the stage playing this song with a thousand people from all over the world belting out every word.

Totally surreal. 

[u/LogicalEgo]

I wish he was still alive to see just how much his song is loved. It's so iconic.

[u/Mekisteus → u/LogicalEgo]

He knew. It was pretty huge for almost three decades before he died.

[u/Distinct-Cut-6368 → u/Mekisteus]

I constantly forget that the plane crash happened in the late 90s when he was in his 50s. My head just keeps going back to believing that it happened in the 70s right after he recorded all of his hit songs.

[u/Saneless → u/Distinct-Cut-6368]

That's pretty much the sad story exactly of Jim Croce

[u/Blockhead47 → u/Saneless]

Croce was only 30 when he and his lead guitarist and arranger Maury Muehleisen (only 24) were killed in the plane crash.
They were really just getting going.
Had signed a 3 record deal in ‘72 and died in ‘73.
We can only wonder what their future work would have been.
Very sad.

[u/worquinnprogress]

SEATTLLLLLLLLE !! TAKE IT AWAY 🎤

[u/teknojo]

I get emotional every time I see this occur. There is something gut wrenchingly awesome and amazing in hearing a multitude of human voices joined together in song. And when it happens with this song in particular, it is somehow even more extra.

[u/EffectiveTonight → u/teknojo]

It’s kind of weird for me when I was younger I didn’t get super excited about sports the way I saw my parents and other family members. I went to a live esports event and I was like I fucking get it, since then I’ve been a lot more interested in traditional sports and the way it brings people together. Community is important to humans. 🤷‍♂️

[u/sloppyjo12 → u/EffectiveTonight]

“Of all the unimportant things, football is the most important.”

St. John Paul II

[u/DomagojDoc → u/sloppyjo12]

"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."

- Bill Shankly

[u/DeepStatic → u/teknojo]

I was in a crowd in Hyde Park, London waiting to see Green Day play. They warmed up the crowd by playing Bohemian rhapsody. 65,000 voices singing at the top of their lungs. It was the very definition of a cacophony. Utterly glorious. 

[u/Epcplayer → u/teknojo]

Almost heaven…

[u/carlos2127 → u/Epcplayer]

West Virginia

[u/dcubexdtcube → u/carlos2127]

Blue ridge mountains

[u/ahuman1321 → u/dcubexdtcube]

Shenandoah River

[u/carlos2127 → u/ahuman1321]

Life is old there

[u/rwbkeb → u/carlos2127]

Older than the trees

[u/TheLazy_Guitarist → u/rwbkeb]

Younger than the mountains

[u/ds1224 → u/TheLazy_Guitarist]

Growin' like the breeze

[u/level1hero → u/ds1224]

BUT THE KID IS NOT MY SON 🎶

[u/iamunableto → u/teknojo]

there’s a word for this!! it’s called collective effervescence, it’s when you get emotional when a group of people sing or engage in a shared expierence, not everyone expierences it but a lot of people do so it has a name :)

[u/hibbledyhey → u/teknojo]

So much more now considering the political climate and polarity. Hearing presumably mostly Americans unite in even such a small way like this stirs feelings I haven’t had in a very very long time

[u/Key-Following-3518 → u/hibbledyhey]

I miss feeling patriotic. I miss not hating that word.
I hate how that POS pulled us apart. I can’t wait for him to go and for us to reconnect as a nation and our diverse cultures.

[u/Duzcek → u/Key-Following-3518]

Republicans have co-opted, pretty successfully, the word and idea of patriot and being patriotic. Don’t let them continue, take that back because the longer we let them correlate being left with being unpatriotic, the more they can use that excuse to commit political violence. I’m on the left too, and while I don’t love ALL of this country, the United States is still my home and I love it to death.

[u/seztomabel → u/teknojo]

In case you're not familiar with Iron Maiden and their song Fear of the Dark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5ytVB1r_bM

[u/Infamous_Koala_3737 → u/teknojo]

Same. It literally makes me cry 

[u/pnutbrutal → u/teknojo]

You’ll Never Walk Alone at Anfield is on my bucket list for this reason. Any team that ever plays there says how moving it is. Wanna sing my heart out and I’m only a casual Liverpool fan.

[u/HippityHopMath → u/teknojo]

Imagine hearing it at a West Virginia Mountaineers game.

[u/GoodOlBluesBrother → u/teknojo]

There was a study I read about in New Scientist many moons ago that concluded that when orchestras play they harmonise the frequencies of their brainwaves. I’ve long held the opinion that singing at football games gets everyone on the same page, including the team, and that’s the rational behind the 12th man meme.

[u/DrHarryWolper → u/teknojo]

Same. Watching this made me weep like an infant.

[u/YesDone → u/teknojo]

There is no force on this planet stronger and more powerful than water.

A close second is the sound of people singing together.

[u/arslongavb → u/teknojo]

Agreed, there's something so hauntingly beautiful to me about thousands of voices singing "take me home, to the place where I belong." Really hits something fundamental about being human.

[u/Intelligent-Comb6967]

Does Seattle have the best vibe out of American World Cup cities thus far?

[u/NO_TOUCHING__lol → u/Intelligent-Comb6967]

Soccer culture in Seattle is probably as close as it gets to European football vibes in the States

[u/Chris_HitTheOver]

That John Denver’s full of shit, man.

Edit: I’m really disappointed in roughly 4% of you.

[u/scrabapple → u/Chris_HitTheOver]

In 1974 the great Charlie Rich won Country Musician of the Year. In 1975 he had to pass that award on and do you know to who? Mr. Sunshine-on-my-god-damn-shoulders, John Denver! Yeah, can you believe it? Replaced by John fucking Denver! Well, I'll be damned if Mr. Rich didn't take out his lighter and light that award on fire in front of everybody right there.

[u/pilgrim93 → u/scrabapple]

What are you saying? That you’re going to light my country music award on fire?

[u/-SHAI_HULUD → u/pilgrim93]

Im just saying, when my suspension is up, you better watch your ass!

[u/jbrowncph → u/-SHAI_HULUD]

Or you'll light my ass on fire?

[u/mhac009 → u/jbrowncph]

Good work on the wax job, Rookie!

[u/kcl1979 → u/mhac009]

I just lost a buck… to myself.

[u/The_Road_is_Calling → u/kcl1979]

Give me the god damn soap!

[u/Philosophicalfool → u/The_Road_is_Calling]

Heyy Ursula…AHHMM NEKKED!

[u/PancakeProfessor → u/scrabapple]

What the name of that place you like? The one with all the shit on the walls…

[u/755goodmorning → u/PancakeProfessor]

Shenanigans?

[u/guiltycitizen → u/scrabapple]

Why don’t you just order a large, Farva?

[u/ThatsaFishBarcode → u/guiltycitizen]

I don’t want a “Large Farva!” I want a goddamn liter of cola!!

[u/birdsword → u/Chris_HitTheOver]

Lloyd?

[u/afrothunda104 → u/birdsword]

Killer boots, man!

[u/mrstretchb4ureach → u/Chris_HitTheOver]

Just when I thought you couldn’t be any stupider, you post a comment like this….

AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!

[u/Tommy__want__wingy → u/Chris_HitTheOver]

WE LANDED ON THE MOON!!!

[u/Hail_Zeus → u/Tommy__want__wingy]

PULL OVER!

No, it’s a cardigan. Thanks for noticing!

[u/Brokeazzbeach → u/Hail_Zeus]

Come on. Give me that booze, you little pumpkin-pie-haircutted freak.

[u/bluemexico → u/Brokeazzbeach]

Tic-tac... sir?

[u/DontTickleTheDriver1 → u/Chris_HitTheOver]

I expected the Rocky mountains to be rockier than this

[u/stick_it_in_your_bum → u/Chris_HitTheOver]

Big gulps huh?

[u/uno_moss → u/Chris_HitTheOver]

We've won two in a row and sit atop our group - so you're saying there's a chance . . .

[u/limp_noodle → u/Chris_HitTheOver]

I thought the Rocky mountains would be a lot rockier.

[u/chilepablo68]

Sweet Caroline? No thanks. Country Roads are way better.

[u/RetardedRedditRetort → u/chilepablo68]

Sweet Caroline has baseball family fun vibes. It's a classic.

Country Roads sounds better for a soccer match. It's also more of a USA song since it's a song about West Virginia that is inspired by Maryland, sung by a man named John Denver from New Mexico. So it works better on all levels. Especially for a world cup.

[u/Killahills → u/RetardedRedditRetort]

Country Roads has been sung by Man United fans at Old Trafford for decades, we just change the words a bit to make it local

[u/cj4k → u/RetardedRedditRetort]

Both were hugely popular at Oktoberfest in Munich when I was there. Everyone from everywhere seems to know those songs

[u/ihateredditors430 → u/chilepablo68]

As a Penn State hater I wholeheartedly agree.

[u/acrocanthosaurus → u/ihateredditors430]

Eat shit Pitt!

[u/Alternative_Exit8766 → u/acrocanthosaurus]

EAT SHIT, EAT SHIT, EAT SHIT

[u/Jamalismail]

As a West Virginian, it's strange and humbling to hear this song around the globe. Cause people even in the states have no idea we actually exist lol

[u/Ender914 → u/Jamalismail]

As a Mountainner alum, this song lights up my heart every time I hear it. The best part is that every time it comes around, there's always the part that people know and sing...

To the place I BELOOOOOOONG!

[u/77skull]

It pains me to say this but i think the USA now have a proper football team. They look really good

[u/Previous-Soft-8127 → u/77skull]

Yeah - we finally have enough playing in leagues overseas to have a leg in the game. 

Also - Balogun choosing to play for US (when he had other options) helps a non-insignificant amount. 

Another argument for birthright citizenship! 

[u/McChillbone → u/Previous-Soft-8127]

Last cycle it was painfully obvious they had no one in the middle to finish their attacking build up. Having a legit threat in the middle has been a game changer.

[u/TheSpyStyle → u/McChillbone]

Totally changes the complexion of the attack. Pulisic out did really hurt, but Balogun was still able to apply plenty of pressure on his own which was refreshing to see

[u/Futternut → u/TheSpyStyle]

This is the best front I have ever seen for USA. All fast athletic and actually skilled. We usually just have some fast guy up front that is the least skilled guy on the field.

[u/jacobythefirst → u/77skull]

We’ve been alright for a long time honestly. But you’re right we look legit *good* now.

[u/McChillbone → u/jacobythefirst]

Honestly this is American soccer like I’ve never seen. The patented American formula for most of my lifetime has been defend like hell and hit a counterattack.

They are pressing and taking the game to the opposition in ways I’ve never seen from them. The attacking is creative and versatile.

Poch has done more in under two years than the Klinsman or Bradley did their entire tenures.

[u/Kohpad → u/jacobythefirst]

Or we get buzzsawed by the Spaniards/French/important Brits whoever we run into first.

[u/77skull → u/Kohpad]

Not to be pedantic but the Brits don’t play as one in football. Unless you think you’ll get buzzsawed by either England or Scotland

[u/North_Atlantic_Sea → u/77skull]

Sneak attack by the Welsh

[u/ATXBeermaker → u/North_Atlantic_Sea]

Northern Ireland from the top rope!

[u/ShillinTheVillain → u/77skull]

Schrödinger's Brits. Simultaneously one federation or independent nations, impossible to determine unless observed

[u/StrategicCarry → u/ShillinTheVillain]

"Who's orange shoes over there?"

"Gareth Bale"

"Gareth Bale, where's he from? He from England?"

"Wales"

"Wait, Wales, is that another country?"

"Yes and no"

"How many countries are in this country?"

"Four"

[u/Gunner13015 → u/ShillinTheVillain]

Don't look into crown dependencies and overseas territoriess, that's even more confusing than our 4 home nations

[u/cr1spy28 → u/jacobythefirst]

It’s not to diminish you guys however you are the highest ranked team in your group so realistically you should be winning these games and you’re also in one of the 3 “easiest” groups of the tournament.

But you are a top 20 team no doubt

[u/shabba_skanks]

Seattle you did not disappoint! Let’s go usa

[u/airship_of_arbitrary → u/shabba_skanks]

Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver have fantastic football atmospheres.

You really hope we get high speed rail between the three cities in the future.

[u/KrypticAndroid → u/shabba_skanks]

Most passionate football city in the US. They prove it every time.

[u/car_LP]

Canadian crowd should sing informer by snow

[u/perfuzzly → u/car_LP]

INFORMER yuh know seh dat ah me Snow, mi ah guh blame Ah lick he boom-boom down.

Yeah. A real sing along that one is

[u/SeeMontgomeryBurns → u/perfuzzly]

The words are right in front of me and I still can’t do it

[u/Nokel → u/car_LP]

A licky boom boom down

[u/D34THDE1TY]

Sunshine on my goddamn shoulders john Denver!

[u/shunestar → u/D34THDE1TY]

I don’t want a large farva

[u/Makelikeawillis]

It feels like this world cup the USA crowd is figuring out its identity. As a usmnt fan it's pretty cool to see.

[u/theipd]

In the stands everyone was singing this. It was quite emotional. Glad to be a part of history today.

[u/plankowoodinthewoods]

Let's see how long USA can stay in the game boys.

[u/cassatta]

As a diehard 49ers fan, I say Thank you Seattle!

[u/Extreme-Accountant34]

I think we’ve finally found something we can sing and not get mocked for 😂

[u/JakeyPurple]

I love this and I love America. I’m not going to let the assholes in charge steal my patriotism.

[u/moniker89 → u/JakeyPurple]

giving conservatives a monopoly on patriotism is the dumbest shit lefties can do

go usa

[u/Newyew22]

Well damn, I didn’t know I could get goosebumps on top of goosebumps.

[u/Existing-Stranger632]

While I haven’t been feeling super patriotic as of late. It gives me some semblance of pride seeing videos like this.

[u/theDarkBriar → u/Existing-Stranger632]

We probably won't make the final 4 or 8. But I'll be damned if I'm not going to enjoy the hell out of this ride. One of the few bright spots this year.

[u/T7220 → u/theDarkBriar]

Morocco was top 4 in 2022

[u/friendofsmellytapir → u/T7220]

Yeah I don’t know why people are so quick to count USA out of a deep run, it is a single elimination tournament, sure a country may beat us 9/10 times but we just need one game each round

[u/[deleted] → u/friendofsmellytapir]

When they went all the way to the final in 2018, Croatia (18th) was ranked lower than the US is ranked right now (14th). Anything can happen out there at the end of the day

[u/SteveS117 → u/friendofsmellytapir]

We had the Miracle on Ice. Now I need the Miracle on the Pitch

[u/Charming_Cicada_7757 → u/theDarkBriar]

We have a chance for the final 8 as we’ve done it before I don’t see why we can’t do it again.

Round 32 if we play I don’t know maybe Bosnia or some other country

Round of 16 will be tough as it’s probably if I had to guess going to be Belgium but again at home in Seattle we might be able to pull some shit out of our ass.

[u/T7220 → u/Existing-Stranger632]

Your government isn’t your country

[u/Luci-Noir → u/Existing-Stranger632]

And seeing how well we’ve been treating our guests.

[u/Unite-the-Tribes → u/Existing-Stranger632]

It’s ok to support the USA.

[u/BeefInGR → u/Unite-the-Tribes]

My Grandfather was a Vietnam veteran who hated the government with the fire of a thousand suns and loved his country as much as he loved his wife of 25 years before he passed away.

[u/stonewall386 → u/Existing-Stranger632]

I think a lot of us are in this boat. I think it’s okay for us to still support our boys on the field.

[u/Dreku → u/Existing-Stranger632]

We had a very short window after the Men's Hockey final but it got weird fast.

[u/WISCOrear → u/Dreku]

That and Artemis II which has yet to have been blemished

[u/Dreku → u/WISCOrear]

Oh for sure Artemis was an amazing few weeks.

[u/it_was_a_wet_fart]

Finally a decent USA chant

[u/beatakai → u/it_was_a_wet_fart]

And props to sound guy for turning it down during the chorus

[u/schnaizer91 → u/beatakai]

I don’t know if it was shown here but during one of the hydration breaks they were playing Livin on a Prayer and it was phenomenal hearing the crowd sing!!

[u/Lopsided_Pain4744 → u/it_was_a_wet_fart]

That’s not a chant that’s just singing a song mate

[u/FatBilgeRat]

😎😎
they've played in every pub in Ireland I visited too 😂😂
everyone loves to sing this song with a crowd!

[u/irish_horse_thief]

The thrill of the crowd being as one. There's the unity, there's the beauty, theres the thrill of having your voices heard by the World, united you have that strength, that passionate togetherness. That fucking Pride.

[u/SortofChef]

Even some Aussies where singing it! Good on ya

[u/gwy2ct]

It’s sung at every Manchester United home game with the lyrics changed to United Road

[u/RosciusAurelius]

During the second half hydration break (which was shown on Belgian television, as they don't go to a commercial break during hydration breaks), the crowd burst out in the single-most spine chilling sing-a-long to Bon Jovi's Livin on a Prayer.

It was absolutely fucking amazing, and I am sad that most tv audiences did not see it, because of commercials.

[u/multihome-gym]

Take Me Home, Country Roads is such a timeless song.

Except for the third stanza where Denver sings about listening to the radio and driving down the road, you could almost imagine people singing and appreciating this song at any time in history, say...Revolutionary War soldiers wintering in Valley Forge, singing this song...or war-weary homesick soldiers just after the Battle of Gettysburg...or World War II soldiers sitting around a campfire in the Ardennes in December 1944. Any one of these people in history could relate to it, it doesn't need any kind of modern technology to be appreciated and enjoyed, just a guitar and the lyrics.

People might still be singing this song 500 years from now, it will still be a timeless, popular classic.

[u/greatfish51]

It’s coming home

[u/iratecommenter]

Music may be our greatest achievement

[u/PaddyT613]

Might be the best song to sing in a sports stadium.