How 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' became the World Cup anthem of Team USA amid hot start

As the U.S. men’s national soccer team heard the final whistle blow at Lumen Field this past Friday, they also heard thousands in the sold-out crowd cheering and singing following a 2-0 victory over Australia that punched their ticket to the knockout stages of the World Cup.

But there was one specific song that rained down from the stands and onto the pitch: "Take Me Home, Country Roads," famously sang by John Denver.

There’s an origin story behind why that song specifically was chosen for the moment where Team USA wins a World Cup match. FIF...