at
FedExField, Navy students began reciting the chant as the Midshipmen won 28–25. In preparation for the Army–Navy Game later that year, Navy sold T-shirts with the phrase written on them. The chant is currently performed by midshipmen in the closing stages of a victory.
The Show of
San Diego State University and
Harvard Crimson students also performed it during games. Fans of various soccer clubs have also recited it, including the
New York Red Bulls of
Major League Soccer and French team
FC Nantes. During the
2016 Ryder Cup, "
U-S-A!" chants by American fans interspersed with calls of "I believe that we will win!"
United States soccer According to Justin Brunken, co-founder of the U.S. soccer
supporters' group The American Outlaws, he first heard the chant during a 2011 U.S. soccer game in Kansas City. He described it as "a chant that just grew from there and caught on and on. It resonated with the crowds across the country and became synonymous with what we believe in." It eventually became a rallying call by fans of the United States national men's soccer team (USMNT). For the 2014 FIFA World Cup,
ESPN used the chant in two commercials promoting the Cup, one depicting The American Outlaws and the other featuring figures like
Kevin Costner,
Ice Cube and
Barry Sanders. The cheer was also acknowledged by members of the USMNT, with goalkeeper
Tim Howard posting it on his
Twitter and receiving almost 60,000
retweets during the 2014 World Cup,
Alejandro Bedoya leading FC Nantes fans in it after home games, The
United States women's national soccer team went on to win the Cup after defeating
Japan.
San Diego State University trademark Strong, who was taught the chant by Rodriguez, was later stationed in San Diego and earned his
Master of Business Administration at
San Diego State University (SDSU). In 2011, SDSU clothing store Aztec Shops Ltd. attempted to trademark the phrase.
Other sports In 2014,
Oakland Athletics fans regaled first baseman
Stephen Vogt with a chant inspired by "I believe that we will win!", titled "I believe in Stephen Vogt!" In 2018,
FiveThirtyEight referenced the chant in the title of an article about American's success in recent golf tournaments.
Non-sports usage After the
death of Osama bin Laden in 2011, the Naval Academy celebrated with Commandant
Robert E. Clark II. Clark led the midshipmen in a modified chant of "I believe that we have won!" The chant has also seen use in protest, such as during the
Occupy Wall Street march in 2011. The Florida-based organization
Dream Defenders adopted the phrase for protests following the 2012
killing of Trayvon Martin, used during a protest at the Florida state capital in 2012. Phil Agnew of the Dream Defenders also led the chant during the 50th anniversary of the "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom" in 2013, leading to its nationwide prominence during
Black Lives Matter protests between 2012 and 2016. On April 13, 2020,
Pitbull released a promotional single titled "I Believe That We Will Win (World Anthem)" (which samples the "I believe that we will win!" chant) in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The song inspires those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak to lift themselves up and rise above the situation. The promotional single was premiered in full on April 12 on the virtual TrillerFest, and made its TV debut on April 13 on
Good Morning America. An accompanying music video was also released. Pitbull is donating all proceeds from song sales, streaming, and views to COVID-19 affiliated nonprofits. ==See also==