SEATTLE — U.S. men’s soccer midfielder Weston McKennie had plenty of praise for the fans who packed Seattle Stadium on Friday night, as the World Cup co-hosts rolled past Australia 2-0 to advance to the Round of 32.
The energy inside the stadium didn’t stop when the final whistle blew. Supporters kept up chants of “U.S.A.” and broke out into a chorus of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” in celebration of the victory.
“The fans were amazing, amazing,” McKennie said after the match.
The 27-year-old said the crowd’s energy had him fired up even before kickoff, particularly when fans sang the national anthem together.
“(It) really woke me up, hearing everyone sing the national anthem, and it just makes you proud to be from this country, in my opinion the greatest country in the world,” he said.
McKennie also touched on the broader significance of hosting the World Cup during a time when the U.S. has frequently clashed with foreign allies under President Donald Trump’s second term. He said the tournament gives international visitors a chance to see “why we love this country so much and experiencing it firsthand.” He added, “I think they’re getting a little taste of it.”
“The fans were amazing, and Seattle was amazing,” McKennie said.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is Argentinian, said the atmosphere moved him personally. “Today, even if I am not American, after the game I was emotional … the fans were amazing,” he said.
Pochettino continued: “The warm reception in the way that they support us and the way they celebrate the victory. They make it feel very emotional and the players, they are very emotional too.”
“I think it was an amazing and a perfect connection in between the energy from the stands and the team … if we want to achieve good things we need the support of our fans,” the coach added.
With two wins, the U.S. now sits at the top of Group D. The group’s other two teams, Paraguay and Turkey, were set to face off later Friday.
