As the U.S. Men’s National Team prepares for one of its biggest matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has found an unexpected way to bring the squad together.
It’s not another training drill.
It’s country music.
Ahead of the Americans’ Round of 32 matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pochettino revealed that country songs have become a regular part of the team’s pregame atmosphere, helping players relax, bond, and embrace the unique culture surrounding this year’s tournament in the United States.
The coach admitted he wasn’t always a country music fan.
But after spending more time in the U.S., he began appreciating the genre’s storytelling and positive energy. Now, country tracks are often heard around the team before matches, creating a laid-back environment as players prepare for the pressure of the World Cup.
One song, in particular, has become the unofficial soundtrack of Team USA’s tournament run:
John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
Following the U.S. victory over Australia earlier in the tournament, nearly 67,000 fans joined the players in singing the classic hit, creating one of the most memorable moments of the World Cup so far. The singalong quickly went viral, and since then, the song has been embraced by supporters from several other countries as well.
Pochettino believes moments like that matter.
While tactics and preparation remain the priority, he says shared experiences away from the field help strengthen team chemistry. Music, especially songs that everyone can sing together, creates connections that carry over into the locker room and onto the pitch.
Country music’s influence has spread far beyond Team USA.
With the World Cup being hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, thousands of international visitors have been discovering country music for the first time. Honky-tonks in Nashville are packed with soccer fans, while viral videos have shown supporters from Scotland, the Netherlands, and other nations belting out Country Roads in bars, stadiums, and even on road trips between matches.
The timing couldn’t be better for country music.
As millions of international viewers tune into the tournament, the genre is enjoying unprecedented global exposure. What started as a stadium singalong has become one of the defining cultural moments of the 2026 World Cup, proving that sometimes a simple song can unite people from every corner of the world.
Whether Team USA continues its World Cup run or not, one thing is already certain:
This summer, country music isn’t just playing in Nashville.
It’s echoing through World Cup stadiums around the world.
