As natives of our country, we often have certain expectations or assumptions about what tourists are apt to enjoy. For the United States, we typically think of places like Disneyland, the Statue of Liberty, even the Chicago Bean. However, with soccer fans entering the U.S. in droves for the 39–day World Cup, tourists are experiencing parts of the U.S. we didn’t necessarily expect to showcase, creating some incredibly viral and incredibly wholesome moments. America generally doesn’t have a great reputation as being a particularly welcoming country, especially with recent government decisions, but many of the stories this summer have shown a different side of the States—the quirky, kind, down–to–earth side that the rest of the world fails to see.
Perhaps the best and cutest moment of this new trend happened in Lawrence, Kan., home of the University of Kansas, which serves as Algeria’s home base for the 2026 World Cup. When the residents of Lawrence discovered that they would be hosting Algeria, they went full–throttle into preparations, ranging from local restaurants serving halal food to the University of Kansas marching band learning the Algerian national anthem. The city, which is now full of bona fide Algeria fans, beautifully showcases the welcoming side of the Heartland—the side that will bend over backward for their neighbors, the people you can always count on for a borrowed cup of sugar, a meal when you’re sick, or a polite “hello” when you pass them on a sidewalk.
Another, more hilarious example of the happiness brought to international tourists comes from a German tourist who goes by the handle @FreddyLA7 on Twitter. Freddy, who documented his six–week–long trip across America, has gone viral for his genuine awe at the “realer” aspects of America and his willingness to try anything. One of his more viral stops was at Waffle House at the ripe hour of one in the morning, where the popular Southern breakfast restaurant is–for lack of a better term–a lawless land. Despite the very notable risk of fights at this hour, Freddy emerged unscathed and even rated it a ten out of ten, mentioning the friendly staff in particular. Throughout his trip, his choice of restaurants looks somewhat like the choices of a hungry high school theatre cast at night after their big show, adding Denny’s, Texas Roadhouse, Buc–ee’s, and Raising Cane’s to their growing list of American chains. What stands out about Freddy’s account, other than his penchant for trying what seems like every American chain ever, is his genuine positive attitude about everything. From his multiple late–night Waffle House runs to his run–in with the mayor of Houston, he seems to take all American culture in stride, and, as a result, has received honorary badges of citizenship by many invested Twitter users.
Other, smaller events have also caught the eye of people on TikTok and Instagram, with many expressing how the World Cup is truly showcasing the good side of America. One (or several) of these has been Japanese soccer fans deep in the heart of Texas, who not only participated in the traditional cleaning of their seating sections after soccer matches, but also gave a few local news interviews in which they expressed their exuberant excitement to be in the U.S. for soccer. Also of note was Norwegian fans’ appearances at several other sporting events, including a Cubs–Mets game in which they displayed their usual stadium antics (i.e., rowing), after the third baseman of the Cubs, Dansby Swanson, hit a three–run homer.
However, the clear favorite event of the internet happened with soccer fans, famously known for being incredibly feral at any given opportunity—the Scottish. As someone who personally witnessed Scottish soccer fans climbing a building in Munich during the Euros in 2024, I would expect nothing less from those from the land of the bagpipes. Even better, the World Cup placed Scottish soccer fans in one of the best places to commit antics in the entire continental U.S.: the city of Boston. Among various normal Scottish activities such as bagpiping and marching in kilts, the Scots chose to also take part in one of the most sacred Bostonian traditions known to man: the Boston cop slide. Despite several close calls with kilts (which are traditionally worn commando), many of these slide activities ended rather peacefully, again prompting the question: why did that cop go so fast? Scottish soccer fans have also been spotted in various other locations throughout the city, both participating in many of Boston’s tourist attractions (such as the Freedom Trail and the USS Constitution), and also making themselves at home in Boston’s nightlife, causing several bars in the area to run out of beer. Some Scottish fans were spotted shotgunning Cutwater, a sure sign they have been welcomed into this country as members in their own right.
The overwhelming sentiment from all of these events—and even more not mentioned here—is that America needs more of this. If we continue to isolate ourselves as a country, both with our policies and our culture, this goal falls apart. However, if we prioritize making America the beautiful salad bowl of culture that it was meant to be, if we utilize our country’s welcoming spirit not only when there is a massive sporting event happening on our land, then we will not only invite more diversity into our nation, but more joy as well. Whether it be Freddy going to Waffle House in the middle of the night or the people of Lawrence, Kan., welcoming Algeria with open arms, it all showcases the true soul of the phrase from Woody Guthrie's perennial American classic: "This land was made for you and me."
