US soccer runs on country music | Music City Minute

The U.S. Men’s National Team doesn’t just play country music after games. They play it before them too. We’ve talked about how John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” has become the unofficial anthem of the 2026 World Cup. But it turns out country music’s role with Team USA goes way deeper than a postgame singalong. The U.S. head coach revealed this week that the night before every match, his coaching staff gets together and plays country music. The manager said he’s become a genuine fan of the genre and even name-dropped three artists the staff has been spinning: Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley. “We need them to come to games. They are very, very welcome here.” Meanwhile, “Country Roads” continues to be the soundtrack of the tournament. The song was included on the official USMNT playlist submitted to FIFA, and it’s been blasted through sold-out stadiums after every match, win or lose. After the 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle, midfielder Weston McKennie was caught on camera singing along from the pitch, strumming air guitar while 67,000 fans belted out the chorus above him. The U.S. won Group D and faces Bosnia in the round of 32 on Wednesday. And if country music has anything to do with it, they’re not done yet.

I’m Brailey, and that’s your Music City Minute.