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USMNT anthem ‘Take Me Home' has ties to Fort Worth
By Deborah Ferguson at NBC 5 DFW (KXAS) Local
· June 25, 2026
· 4 min read
When the U.S. Men’s National Team hits the pitch in Los Angeles, fans will bust out in “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
U.S. Soccer officials picked John Denver’s 1971 country folk song as the post-match sing-along.
Before he changed his name to Denver and became famous, the man who sang a...
Key takeaway Soccer officials picked John Denver’s 1971 country folk song as the post-match sing-along.
Why this matters in Southlake News
The adoption of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" as the U.S. Men's National Team's post-match sing-along is a point of pride for Fort Worth, given John Denver's brief but formative time in the city. As the son of a U.S. Air Force officer stationed in Fort Worth, Denver attended Arlington Heights High School, where he was known as Henry John Deutschendorf, Junior, before adopting his famous stage name. The city's influence on his early life and music career is a testament to the vibrant songwriter scene that exists in Fort Worth. Tom Martens, Vice President of Creative Film and Music for Visit Fort Worth, notes that Denver's time in Fort Worth likely played a role in shaping his musical talents, and the city is happy to claim him as one of its own. This connection adds a local layer of excitement to the World Cup festivities.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC 5 DFW (KXAS) Local . Southlake News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC 5 DFW (KXAS) Local . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: NBC 5 DFW (KXAS) Local ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? When the U.S. Men’s National Team hits the pitch in Los Angeles, fans will bust out in “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
U.S. Soccer officials picked John Denver’s 1971 country folk song as the post-match sing-along.
Before he changed his name to Denver and became famous, the man who sang a...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by NBC 5 DFW (KXAS) Local and curated for Southlake News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Deborah Ferguson at NBC 5 DFW (KXAS) Local. To learn more about how Southlake News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Southlake News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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