World Cup Tourists Are Sharing Their First Impressions Of The USA, And This Genuinely Surprised Me
World Cup Tourists Are Sharing Their First Impressions Of The USA, And This Genuinely Surprised Me
Morgan Sloss / BuzzFeed Tue, June 23, 2026 at 5:14 AM UTC
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The FIFA World Cup is happening across Canada, the US, and Mexico, and I may not be a soccer girlie, but I'm loving reading about everyone's experiences!
Ewan Bootman - SNS Group / SNS Group via Getty ImagesWell, Reddit user u/almighty_smiley recently asked, "World Cup tourists, what's your honest feedback on the USA so far?" And the thread was such a refreshing corner of the internet! Here are some of the top-voted responses:
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Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images
"Nobody warned me that American portion sizes are actually a threat to your health. I ordered a medium coffee and received what my country would classify as a bucket."
— u/itsokay_28
Ali Chehade / Getty Images
"Everyone's been friendly, but your distances are basically side quests. 😅"
— u/Ok-Syllabub-1086
"In Europe, 100 miles is far, and 100 years ago was yesterday. In North America, 100 miles is nearby, and 100 years ago is half the history of the country."
— u/jello_pudding_biafra
Thomas Winz / Getty Images
"Amazing people, huge portions, long distances, and way too much tipping."
— u/Successful_Big70
"Tipping is ridiculous. I'm doing 20% everywhere because I want to be a respectful guest, but it is insane."
— u/MarvaJnr
Walter Bibikow / Getty Images
"The stadiums are amazing. The traffic? Less amazing. 😂"
— u/Straight-Order4674
PAUL ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
"The good: Americans are genuinely friendly and welcoming. Random people in bars and fan zones have been super chatty and helpful. The food culture is wild in the best way. Buc-ee's blew my mind, ranch dressing should be a human right, and the portion sizes are hilarious. Waffle House at 2 a.m. after a match? 10/10 experience. The stadiums and infrastructure are impressive. Atmosphere in the cities has been electric when the fans show up."
"The not so good: Everything is so spread out. Traveling between host cities is expensive and tiring. Prices are brutal — hotels, tickets on resale, even basic food and drinks. Feels like they're trying to squeeze every dollar. The heat in some cities is no joke, and public transport around certain venues could be better organized.
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Overall, I'm having a great time, and the positives outweigh the negatives, but it's very different from European tournaments, where everything feels more compact and walkable. The USA is massive and chaotic, but that's part of the charm."
— u/Disastrous-Tie-9848
And because they're too good not to share, here are some responses from Americans:"America loves you back! Welcome!"
—u/Larry-Lasagna
"These comments give me hope that our humanity and hospitality as a country are not lost. Governments are not a representation of its people. We welcome you all here as our guests. Have fun!"
—u/Cryptic_Honeybadger
And finally: "Despite everything, this is still America. We may not know your name, your language, or basic world history, but by god, you're not leaving here without a plate of barbecue and three people telling you to be safe on the way home."
—u/politicaldan
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