What World Cup Tourists Discovering About America-From Fast Food to Costs

The 2026 World Cup is bringing millions of international visitors to the United States-and many are finding that everyday American life is almost as entertaining as the soccer itself.

From locked-up shampoo and giant portions to Buc-ee’s pit stops and eye-watering Uber fares, fans are turning their culture shocks into viral content.

The tournament has expanded from 32 to 48 teams, making it the biggest World Cup ever staged and drawing more than a million international visitors across North America.

As fans move between host cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, social media has become an unofficial travel diary-capturing real-time reactions to American food, prices, transport and culture far beyond the stadiums.

From Mac ‘N’ Cheese to Mega-Sized Everything

One of the visitors documenting his journey is Scottish fan Shaun Cumming, whose videos exploring American food and culture have attracted widespread attention online.

“The food here is very, very good. I think, in general, the food here is just better seasoned than it is in the U.K.

“Here, you get flavor, you get fed well, they put a lot spices, herbs and seasoning into their food in general, which just makes it really good,” he told Newsweek.

Cumming, who arrived in New York after traveling from Edinburgh, said differences in day-to-day life are immediately noticeable.

“People here are very positive, enthusiastic, and they’re not shy at all. They will tell you how they feel for good or for bad. And sometimes for British people, it can catch us off guard a little bit,” Cumming said.

He added that American culture can feel more open than in the U.K.

“I think people are generally speaking more open here in the States. I think, in the U.K., we can be a bit closed sometimes,” he said.

Scale is another defining feature. “Everything's bigger in every way-the vehicles are bigger, the buildings are bigger,” he said.

Similar observations are flooding social media as visitors document everything from store layouts and restaurant portions to road-trip culture and everyday interactions.

Some posts have generated millions of views.

One German fan chronicling a six-week road trip across America has built a large following by reacting with amazement to late-night Waffle House visits, Walmart runs and stops at Buc-ee’s-places many Americans barely think twice about.

The Locked-Up Shampoo Mystery

Swedish fan Elsa Thora (@elsathora) went viral after discovering toiletries locked behind anti-theft cabinets in a U.S. store-a practice uncommon in much of Europe.

“Okay I guess it was going to happen eventually…my first negative experience. Why is one item locked up yet other items the same price isn't!?”

The post on X gained more than 920,000 views as Elsa revealed the unexpected culture shock.

Falling in Love With US Food

If there is one area where visitors seem united, it’s food.

Cumming said the variety across different regions stood out most.

“The food changes depending on where you are,” he said, noting that regional traditions and immigrant influences create very different experiences from one state to another.

Another British soccer fan, @LeahRay44, has been sharing her journey trying foods across the country. In a recent video, she said she “might be the first British girl to try this combo” as she tucked into a chicken waffle with ranch sauce and ice cream in an IHOP.

Higher Costs and Unexpected Fines

Not all reactions have been positive, particularly when it comes to price.

“It is extremely expensive here. It is a shock to the system for people arriving here for the first time,” Cumming said.

He also pointed to transport costs as a standout example. “We came into Brooklyn and it cost $150 [in an Uber]. If you paid $130 for an Uber in the U.K., you’d go a lot further distance,” he said.

Another visitor posting on X, @SkylarSkye3, shared how she saw someone get fined for jaywalking.

“I just saw someone get fined $100 for crossing in the middle of the road in America. Does this happen often, I've never seen it happen in the UK at all.”

America Through Foreign Eyes

For many visitors, however, the appeal is simply seeing everyday America up close.

Japanese soccer journalist Tatsuya Takeuchi shared a picture of a Tennessee street with the caption: “It's a view so stunning it feels like a lie.”

Another Japanese journalist, Mai Kosugi, was in Nashville when she wrote: “From the perspective of a Universal Studios annual pass holder, it feels so similar that you’d think you’d come back home.”

As millions of fans continue arriving throughout the tournament, their videos are creating an unexpected side story to the World Cup-one focused not on goals and results, but on giant pickup trucks, supermarket culture, diner food and the quirks of daily American life.

For visitors like Cumming, that’s exactly what makes the trip memorable.

“I share my experiences of traveling and other stuff and I really enjoy doing that,” he said.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 11:46 AM.