On Wednesday night, the United States of America national soccer team captured a dramatic win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the nation's first win during the Knockout Stage on the FIFA World Cup since 2002, and just their second Knockout Stage victory ever. And if any West Virginia sports fans were watching, the post-game celebration probably looked familiar.
After the win, the speakers at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium belted out "Take Me Home, Country Roads" – and in true American (or West Virginian?) fashion, the fans, players, and coaching staff joined together in unison to serenade the stadium with the song.
Biggest winner of 2026: West Virginia
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) July 2, 2026
WVU makes the College World Series.
"Country Roads" becomes the official anthem of the World Cup and summer of 2026 in general.
America is Appalachia. Appalachia is America.
Love ALL of you 🇺🇸🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/lTPRVpOPw4
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" becomes unofficial theme for US national team, shining a spotlight on WVU's top postgame tradition
Wednesday's scene came after the US fan base hijacked the tradition that has been long associated with the Mountaineers earlier in the World Cup following a US win. Perhaps it was on the mind of sports fan across the US due to the recent exposure of West Virginia Mountaineers fans engaging in the tradition at Kendrick Family Ballpark during the Regional and Super Regional rounds of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.
And West Virginia fans weren't the only ones thinking of the Mountaineers during the moment. CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein highlighted the moment on social media, noting that he immediately went to YouTube to watch the ending of West Virginia's 2010 Big East Tournament Championship Game against Georgetown.
Watched the World Cup game socially.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 2, 2026
Heard “Country Roads”.
Immediately went to YouTube to watch the 2010 Big East Tournament title game ending between West Virginia & Georgetown.
Da’Sean Butler was incredible that week.
17 weeks from Sunday we will have college basketball.
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" has long been played before games and associated with the sports programs at West Virginia due to the state being shouted out in the chorus, and John Denver even once played the song in Morgantown at WVU's stadium.
During current head coach Rich Rodriguez's first tenure leading the Mountaineers from 2001-2007, he instituted to the tradition of playing the song following wins and having his team sing the song with the fans. Ever since, it's become one of the top traditions in all of college sports.
As West Virginia's athletic director Wren Baker acknowledged in a recent interview, having the song and tradition get such exposure – even during the World Cup where a WVU team isn't playing – is priceless marketing for the university. And as the US national teams continues their run to the Round of 16, West Virginia fans will be watching closely for another opportunity to celebrate their favorite sports tradition.
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