The United States Men’s National Team opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night, but one of the most memorable moments came before the opening whistle.
The duo, made up of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, has spent more than a decade building a reputation as one of country music’s most successful acts. Since forming in Nashville in 2012, they have released six studio albums and are set to release their seventh in August 2026.
Over the years, Dan + Shay have produced a string of major hits, including “Tequila,” “Speechless,” and “10,000 Hours,” their chart-topping collaboration with Justin Bieber. They have also worked with artists such as Charlie Puth, Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, RaeLynn, and Lindsey Stirling.
Their success has been recognized by the music industry as well. The duo made Grammy history by winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance three years in a row from 2019 through 2021.
On Friday, they added another milestone to their career by performing the national anthem before the United States’ opening match of the World Cup on home soil.
Shortly after the performance aired, Fox Sports shared a video on social media alongside the caption, “The Star-Spangled Banner hits different on home soil at the FIFA World Cup.”
Watch the performance below
The clip quickly gained traction online, collecting more than 700,000 views within just a few hours.
Fans also noticed several high-profile names in attendance. Cameras caught actor Tom Cruise singing along to the anthem from the stands as the crowd joined in throughout the stadium.
The performance sparked an outpouring of praise on social media.
“This is such a beautiful moment. The entire stadium is united in singing the national anthem together,” one viewer wrote.
Another fan simply called it a “W performance by Dan & Shay.”
“Not so much a country fan myself, however Dan and Shay have beautiful voices! Nicely done!! God Bless the USA,” another person commented.
One viewer even suggested, “Casting my vote for Dan + Shay to sing the Star-Spangled Banner at every sporting event from this moment forward.”
Others summed up their reaction with a single word: “GOOSEBUMPS.”
Many fans were equally moved by the crowd participation, with one person writing, “The fans singing this as well is just so awesome. World Cup at home hits different.”
The emotional pregame atmosphere appeared to be the perfect start for the United States, which went on to dominate Paraguay in a 4-1 victory and begin its World Cup journey in impressive fashion.
As fans packed the stadium for the highly anticipated Group D clash, country music stars Dan + Shay took center stage to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner,” delivering a powerful rendition that quickly became one of the night’s biggest talking points.
