World Cup fans in US marvel at supersized culture

International football fans arriving in the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are not only taking in the matches but also marveling at the scale and quirks of American culture, with many sharing their observations on social media.

Size matters: American scale stuns visitors

Ayoub Baghdad, a fan from Morocco, said he was immediately struck by the sheer size of everything. “Everything is big, even the Coke is big,” he said, referring to the carbonated beverage. He noted that roads, trucks, and buildings are much larger than what he is used to back home.

This preoccupation with size was a common theme among fans interviewed by the BBC. Shaun, a vlogger from Scotland, visited a Buc-ee’s — a combined convenience store, restaurant, gas station, and supermarket popular in the southern US — and posted: “A place like this could ONLY exist in America and I LOVE it.” The chain has a cult following, with fans often posing with its beaver mascot.

Food and dining: flavor, portions, and free refills

For many fans, food is a key part of exploring the country. Ire Balogun, traveling from Oxford, England, said: “I find that the food generally is significantly better than in England. I’m surprised even with their fast food, there’s just so much more flavour. I am sure it’s not good for you in many other ways … but the flavour comes through across the board, whether it’s Chinese or [Hispanic] food.”

João Valentim and his friends, Portuguese graduate students traveling from Madrid, have been trying “mostly fast food, chain restaurants that we don’t have in our own country,” including Chipotle and Shake Shack, as well as independent restaurants. Lourenço Silva said: “It’s what we are used to seeing in movies or TV shows. It’s a part of the experience of coming to the US.”

Christian Boateng, from Ghana but living in England, was struck by portion sizes. “The portion we bought, we couldn’t finish everything. It’s not like that in England.” He also noted the American practice of not including sales tax in listed prices, which differs from the UK.

Other fans have posted online about free chips and salsa at Hispanic restaurants and free refills offered at nearly every eatery.

Football’s place in a crowded sports landscape

Balogun, who attended World Cups in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, observed that the mood in the US has been more muted compared to previous tournaments, even though the country hosts the largest share of matches. He attributed this to football not being the national pastime, competing with baseball (currently in season) and American football, the nation’s most popular sport.

That competition created a memorable moment for England fans Jason Barnes and Harry Beckley, who accidentally found themselves in a crowd of basketball fans in New York’s Times Square as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs to win their first NBA title in 53 years. “It’s the craziest celebration I have ever seen or even been a part of,” said Barnes, traveling from Portsmouth. “We know basketball is huge in America, obviously not so much in the UK.”

About 75% of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches are being played in the US, with Mexico and Canada sharing the remainder. The influx of international fans continues to generate viral content as they explore American culture, landscape, and oddities.