Foreign football fans arriving in the US for the 2026 World Cup are finding more than just top-tier soccer. They're encountering a country where everything—from soda portions to supermarket sizes—is larger than life.
Ayoub Baghdad, a Moroccan fan following his national team, was immediately struck by the scale of American life. “Everything is big, even the Coke is big,” he said, noting the oversized roads, trucks, and buildings compared to his homeland.
With roughly 75% of World Cup matches hosted in the US (the rest split between Mexico and Canada), international visitors are flooding in, eager to soak up American culture. Social media is buzzing with videos of fans trying iconic U.S. experiences: devouring Waffle House breakfasts, discovering ranch dressing, and marveling at colossal supermarkets and restaurant portions.
Scottish vlogger Shaun captured the sentiment after visiting a Buc-ee's—a sprawling combo of convenience store, gas station, and restaurant. “A place like this could ONLY exist in America and I LOVE it,” he posted.
Food is a central part of the cultural exploration. Ire Balogun, traveling from Oxford, England, said, “The food is significantly better than in England. Even fast food has so much more flavor.” Portuguese grad students João Valentim and his friends have been hitting chains like Chipotle and Shake Shack, calling it “part of the experience of coming to the US.”
Portion sizes also wowed visitors. Christian Boateng, from Ghana but living in England, noted, “The portion we bought, we couldn't finish everything. It's not like that in England.” He also pointed out the American quirk of excluding sales tax from listed prices.
Despite the festive atmosphere, some fans noticed a more subdued mood compared to previous World Cups. Ire Balogun, who attended tournaments in Russia and Qatar, attributed it to soccer not being the national pastime—it competes with baseball and football for attention. For some, that was a bonus: England fans Jason Barnes and Harry Beckley accidentally joined a raucous celebration after the New York Knicks won their first NBA title in 53 years. “It's the craziest celebration I have ever seen,” Barnes said.
Many travelers are venturing beyond host cities to explore the American heartland. Tomás Soares and his Portuguese friends are heading to the South for barbecue and seafood boils. “That's the thing most of us are looking forward to,” Soares said.
Baghdad acknowledged higher prices compared to Qatar but said, “You can make your own budget to watch maybe one or two games and have the experience for your whole life, because it’s not going to happen again.”