From Giant Portions to Massive Highways: What World Cup Fans Notice in the US

The 2026 World Cup in the US has drawn hundreds of thousands of football fans, many of whom are sharing their impressions of American daily life on social media. A common observation is that everything in the US is bigger than elsewhere.

Moroccan fan Ayub Bagdad told the BBC he was amazed by the wide roads, huge buildings, and large cars. "Everything is big, even the Coke is big," he said. Other international visitors echo these sentiments, highlighting supermarkets, restaurant portions, and gas stations. The Buc-ee's chain, combining a gas station, store, restaurant, and rest area, has become especially popular. Scottish blogger Sean concluded that such a place could only exist in America.

Many fans are exploring US culture through food. English fan Ire Balogun said American cuisine pleasantly surprised him, with even fast food tasting better than in England. A group of Portuguese students wanted to try eateries they had seen only in movies and TV shows.

Restaurant portions have stunned many visitors. Fans from Europe and Africa admitted they often could not finish their meals. Ghanaian fan Christian Boateng noted that such portions are rare in England. He was also puzzled by the US practice of not including tax in the listed price until checkout.

Foreign visitors observed that the football frenzy in the US is less intense than at previous World Cups. Balogun, who attended the 2018 tournament in Russia and the 2022 championship in Qatar, attributes this to competition from popular sports like American football, basketball, and baseball. However, this has led to unique experiences, such as England fans Jason Barnes and Harry Beckley accidentally ending up in the New York Knicks' NBA championship celebration in Times Square. Barnes called it incredible and said he might start following the NBA.

Many fans are not limiting themselves to matches. Portuguese fans have planned a route through the southern US to try traditional barbecue and seafood. Moroccan fan Bagdad acknowledged that the trip is more expensive than the previous World Cup in Qatar, but described the experience as unforgettable.