VANCOUVER -- U.S. women's national team supporters have been turning out in droves to root on their squad, flying and driving across the border en masse to create a home-pitch advantage through the Americans' first two Women's World Cup group-stage games in Canada.
The USA's final group-stage match is against Nigeria on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET. The game -- if the U.S. wins, they win the group -- promises to be no exception to the rule of gung-ho American support during this tournament, with red, white and blue starting to pop up all over this city on Monday. But the most spine-tingling moment of anticipation came on Monday night.
None other than Mia Hamm -- arguably the greatest player in women's soccer history -- stopped by a night-before party to lead a raucous group of fans in the extremely awesome "I Believe That We Will Win" chant that has become synonymous with U.S. soccer fans. Luckily, Kayla Knapp of Fox Sports caught the moment on video.
Just Mia Hamm leading the @AmericanOutlaws in "I Believe" pic.twitter.com/0Pod7xpY4I— Kayla Knapp (@KaylaKnappFOX) June 16, 2015
If that doesn't get you extra-hyped for the U.S. women's quest for their first World Cup title since 1999, we recommend consulting a medical professional immediately. You may have a hole in your soul, to use the official scientific terminology.
Hamm led the U.S. to Women's World Cup titles in 1991 and 1999, then won FIFA's female player of the year award the first two years it was given, in 2001 and 2002, before retiring from soccer in 2004. Eleven years later, she still remains the face of women's soccer for many casual fans.
It's a thrill to see her here in Vancouver supporting the current team -- and leading ecstatic fans in a chant that became something of a sensation during the men's World Cup in Brazil last summer. As Hamm slowly builds the crowd up, everyone in the house goes, well, ham.
Just in case you want to get it going in your living room or local bar on Tuesday night, here's how the call-and-response "I Believe That We Will Win" chant goes:
I believe
I believe
I believe that
I believe that
I believe that we
I believe that we
I believe that we will
I believe that we will
[faster and in unison]
I believe that we will win
I believe that we will win
I believe that we will win
I believe that we will win