World Cup fans visiting the U.S. from Europe are discovering American life—and both sides are loving it

For foreigners, American life is often viewed through the eyes of Hollywood. But as tourists flood American cities for the World Cup, many are turning to social media to show everyday America from a fresh perspective. The world’s largest sporting event, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, kicked off this week, cohosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States. But beyond the games themselves, the more than 10 million tourists expected to visit the U.S. this summer are also getting a glimpse of everyday American life—and both sides seem to be enjoying it. Several tourists who touched down in the U.S. a week ahead of kickoff have been taking social media users along for their adventures throughout the country, sharing their amusement and awe over seemingly conventional American features from fire trucks to oversized sodas. “Not gonna lie, Big Gulps from 7/11 are easily one of my favourite things I’ve discovered in America so far,” a user from England visiting Orlando said on X. Another added, “Every Scottish person in America needs to immediately try Chicken Fried Steak, and you’ll realise we and the Americans are kindred spirits.” “Fun to see in person” For many, the summer visit is one of their first interactions with America in real life. “I think most of us know the US only through stories and movies. Stuff like a US gas station or a yellow school bus is very recognizable and fun to see in person,” a user said on X. For some soccer fans, the World Cup has become an opportunity to explore American cities and towns in a new way, with some road-tripping from city to city in between games. “I know some people will say I’m too positive about everything I see, but this place was crazy,” one German tourist posted while road-tripping through the South. “They had a shooting range in the store.” The same user, whose observations have been going viral, shared his fascination with Walmart, his first Waffle House meal, and the natural beauty of landscapes in Tennessee and Georgia—and even embraced American traditions like watching the NBA Finals while enjoying a Chipotle bowl. Another tourist, from Sweden, shared snippets of her time in the U.S. while actively looking to try American food and experiences. “Why did no one tell me ranch sauce is like crack? EUROPE WE NEED RANCH ASAP,” she said on X. While visiting San Francisco, this user also pointed out the beauty of fire trucks, a newfound appreciation for American-style hash browns. Reality check Of course, not every post was necessarily positive, with users also questioning American customs they find strange, like locked-up products at pharmacies, or selling rifles inside a department store. The accounts now regularly reach thousands of social media users, both American and foreigners alike, with many U.S. residents finding their foreign fascination equally fascinating. “It’s sick to see how many Europeans came over here to actually enjoy US culture. Saw a guy look at a Buc-ee’s gas station the same way I’d look at Stonehenge,” a user said on X. But not everyone is convinced that the excitement is genuine—with some accusing the tourists of engagement farming. “I’m sorry to be that guy, but on some level you all know these World Cup German tourists are pretending to find America super awesome for the clicks, right?” said one user said on X. For the most part, though, commenters have opted to focus on the positive light that tourists are bringing to American culture. As one X user put it, “A couple of Germans on a road trip have done more to inspire patriotism ahead of America’s 250th anniversary than the entirety of the U.S. government.”