Welcome to America, Soccer Fans — We’ve Been Waiting for You

Turns out, all it took was the world’s biggest sporting event to remind everyone that America is actually pretty great — at least according to the millions of international visitors currently losing their minds over ranch dressing and Buc-ee’s.

As the 2026 Futbol/Soccer Tourney unfolds across North American host cities — from the vibrant streets of Miami and the bustling energy of New York/New Jersey to the expansive venues in Dallas, Atlanta, and beyond — something far more entertaining than the matches themselves is happening online. Fans from around the world are sharing their reactions to uniquely American experiences across TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms, and the videos have become a viral subgenre of the International Soccer event content, offering Americans a glimpse into how everyday life in the U.S. appears through the eyes of foreign visitors.

Oxford Economics reported that 1.24 million international visitors are expected to visit America for the matches, and based on the content flooding social media feeds right now, a good chunk of them are spending just as much time at Waffle House as they are at the stadium.

The Food: Bigger, Better, and Apparently Life-Changing

Let’s just start with the elephant in the room — or rather, the elephant-sized portion on the plate.

From massive trays of traditional Texas barbecue to late-night orders at Waffle House, thousands of tourists who have flocked to the U.S. for the first time are obsessing over their first taste of American food and dining culture. Before international tourists even stepped foot in stadiums, they had begun filling social media feeds with videos of themselves trying fast food chains, discovering free refills on drinks, and stumbling across deli sandwiches at regional grocery stores.

Nobody captured the moment better than German fan FreddyLA7, who has basically become an accidental tourism ambassador for the entire country. The German soccer fan amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on X during his trip through the Deep South, marveling at the size of American football stadiums, gas stations, and the availability of fast food. His 1 a.m. Waffle House run? He simply wrote, “Just had our first Waffle House experience at 1am. Great food, great prices, and friendly staff. 10/10, we will be coming back.” The man gets it.

And then there’s Swedish visitor Elsa Thora, who discovered ranch dressing in Indiana and did not take it quietly. At a diner in Indianapolis, Thora discovered ranch dressing and demanded it be exported to Europe, writing, “Why did no one tell me ranch sauce is like crack? EUROPE WE NEED RANCH ASAP.” Honestly, fair point.

One U.K. visitor wrote, “I can’t lie… the food in America is ridiculous. Everyone talks about portion sizes, but nobody talks enough about how GOOD everything tastes. Even the ‘quick’ food feels elite compared to what I’m used to in the U.K.”

International fans from Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia have been branching well beyond the major cities, exploring the American heartland and encountering everything from Kansas City dry-rub barbecue — which Argentine fans reportedly compared favorably to their own beloved asado traditions — to Portuguese fans seeking out traditional Southern seafood boils. And the chips and salsa are free. Just letting everyone know.

The Culture Shock is Real (And We’re Here For It)

It’s not just the food. As thousands of international fans travel across the country for the matches, many are documenting their first encounters with uniquely American experiences — from massive Buc-ee’s stores and Texas barbecue to mechanical bulls and Walmart.

Walmart. A tourist attraction. Apparently.

Several travelers have posted videos wandering the aisles in amazement at the store’s size, selection, and sheer amount of stuff. It’s beginning to look like Walmart may be the unofficial  attraction nobody expected.

Then there’s Buc-ee’s, which, if you’ve never been, truly cannot be explained — only experienced. German fan Freddy said it best when he captioned a photo simply: “DUDE LMAO THIS IS A GAS STATION.” No further questions.

One Japanese visitor took a trip to Fort Worth and appeared genuinely amazed by the city’s western charm. From cowboy hats to historic streets, the city looked like something straight out of a Hollywood western. A group of Dutch supporters also embraced the Texas experience with enthusiasm, proving cowboy culture translates surprisingly well.

The hospitality, though — that might be the biggest surprise of the whole tournament. Restaurant owners have reportedly driven fans to games because they couldn’t find an Uber. A deli owner gave British tourists free lunch “just because they came all this way.” Some Alabama firefighters gave foreign visitors a tour of their fire department and free merchandise.

As one tourism researcher put it, “A visitor may forget the final score, but they will remember the Uber driver who recommended a local barbecue restaurant, the volunteer who helped them find the train station, or the stranger who said, ‘Welcome to America.'”

Scotland’s famous Tartan Army has been particularly good at charming locals wherever they go. Videos of Scottish fans singing in pubs, marching through city streets, and interacting with local residents have generated millions of views online. And yes — fans staying at a local Airbnb woke up their temporary neighbors at 6:30 one morning with their bagpipes blaring. And the neighbors apparently loved it. Boston, you’ve done it again.

Not All Sunshine and Free Refills

In the interest of full transparency, it hasn’t all been perfect. The summer heat and humidity in Southern and Midwestern venues have overwhelmed visitors from cooler climates — as anyone who’s tried to enjoy a Kansas City parking lot in July can confirm. Travel between host cities has proven tiring and expensive, with some groups estimating $10,000-plus for multi-match trips when you factor in dynamic ticket pricing, hotels, and stadium food and drinks.

While political battles over immigration and travel policy continue to dominate discussion, foreign fans are going viral for celebrating a very different side of America, though visa delays have still hindered fans from certain regions from making the trip at all. A few visitors have also noted that public transit options near some stadiums could use some work — a fair criticism that, unfortunately, isn’t going away anytime soon.

The Bigger Picture

When you step back from all the TikTok videos and viral Waffle House reviews, something genuinely meaningful is happening here. “The World Cup is one of the greatest cultural classrooms on Earth,” one researcher noted, adding that “communities discover that despite different accents and team loyalties, people share far more similarities than differences.”

Fans from Scotland, England, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Japan, and dozens of other nations are going home with stories that go way beyond soccer. While football remains the primary reason for travel, many visitors are increasingly sharing their fascination with American dining culture, turning food experiences into one of the most talked-about aspects of their journeys.

While visitors are discovering aspects of American life firsthand, many Americans appear equally enthusiastic about seeing their country through fresh eyes. And really, that might be the most American thing about all of this — we love nothing more than watching someone else fall in love with what we’ve always taken for granted.

Free soda refills. Chicken wings and ranch. A Buc-ee’s the size of a small country.

Welcome to America. We’re glad you’re here. As one visitor put it: “Just indulge in it. Because there’s just so much here.”