Visitors from Europe attending the 2026 World Cup in the United States have been unexpectedly charmed by small-town America, Buc-ee’s, large portion sizes, and the option for unlimited soda refills, as shown in various social media videos. “We owe America a huge apology; it’s not what the media portrays,” stated a fan. “People were incredibly friendly, and I genuinely had a blast.”
“I can have endless refills!” exclaimed an astonished Italian fan while enjoying his Coca-Cola in a restaurant clip showcasing European reactions to the U.S.
“Yeah, but you’re not actually going to drink 1,000 colas,” a friend joined in, leading the Italian to respond with a grin, “You don’t know me,” and to add, “It’s free.”
“You bought it,” his buddy pointed out, and the Italian retorted, “Once!”
In another scene, an Italian fan is filmed exiting a store with a drink, surprised when he reveals, “I ordered a medium.”
“That’s medium,” a friend replied, prompting the Italian to exclaim: “Medium? The entire family could drink for a month!”
Meanwhile, inside Walmart, a man from the UK marveled in an aisle, saying, “Look at all this car stuff. It’s like paradise.” He then scanned the shelves, confused by the selection, “What’s up with this? We have bread, milk, and an air rifle here.”
The videos capture Europeans wandering through Target, their astonishment evident.
“LOL, this is just a gas station,” Freddie from Germany exclaimed in a post that went viral.
—Freddie also shared his experiences in the U.S. earlier this month, including a snapshot from Buc-ee’s that highlighted a long line of gas pumps.
In another clip, a fan from Sweden wearing a cowboy hat enthusiastically praised Buc-ee’s.
When asked about his hat’s origin in Houston, he replied, “From Buc-ee’s!”
“Let’s go to Buc-ee’s! It’s fantastic!” said the Swedish fan. “I love beef jerky. Cowboy culture is awesome!”
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One British fan shared, “We owe America a big apology; it’s not at all what media suggests. Everyone has been so warm and friendly, and we genuinely enjoyed ourselves.” He humorously added, “I’m flying home Sunday, and there’s a British song that goes, ‘Don’t take me home. I just don’t want to work. Let me stay here and drink beer.’ It’s never felt truer than now.”
In Nashville, an Australian influencer recorded herself at a lemonade stand, noting, “Apparently, this is a Southern tradition. Kids have lemonade stands. I’ve never seen one before.”
After purchasing lemonade, he exclaimed, “Brother, I just learned there’s a kid’s baseball game over there. I have to check it out!” He added, “This feels like every movie I’ve ever seen.” It made him reconsider his views on children on Saturday mornings, saying, “Oh my gosh, this is so cool!”
The Australian ended by stating he wants the “full American dream.”
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In another clip, a fan was taken aback by Costco, noting, “This place is bigger than Walmart!”
Another participant noted, “We were among the first Europeans here and found all these flavors. What’s Big Red?”
A British fan peered at a container store, confused about its purpose, saying, “What? It’s just a container?”
“Do they use these to organize things? Nothing like that back in England,” he remarked.
Americans seem delighted to see Europeans enjoying their time in the U.S.
“Can the U.S. host the World Cup every year?” one Twitter user asked, sharing videos of Japanese fans trying to learn “Splitting the G,” a popular bar challenge.
Another American shared, “These videos are so wonderful. I wish the World Cup would never end,” and posted a clip of a Japanese fan experiencing Buzz Ball for the first time.
Another clip features an Australian fan recounting a visit to Texas Roadhouse, calling it “incredible.” He described how they give out peanuts for free and then bring out complimentary bread. “I didn’t order bread, but they said, ‘Oh, it’s free.’ If you want more, just ask,” he continued. “And this bread is simply the best—If you’re Australian, imagine the most delicious bread accompanied by Coke, with unlimited refills, of course!”
“You walk out feeling so satisfied,” he added. “Australians often say, ‘Yeah, but you have to tip in America.’ Actually, it’s more like you want to tip. These folks are just the nicest!”
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Another British fan expressed overall surprise, commenting, “It’s so impressive, everything is air-conditioned,” while standing in a Texas stadium, “It’s just massive.”
As George Strait’s song “Somewhere Down in Texas” played, fans commented, “Everything is indeed bigger here in Texas,” and expressed that it’s one of the best stadiums they’ve ever visited.
In Niagara Falls, Freddie noted, “I thought it was just a waterfall, but this city is like one big amusement park.” He pointed out a roller coaster over a Burger King.
Amidst the excitement, some opinions emerged as well, with one columnist noting on social media that “Seattle’s leftists were against the World Cup because of President Trump, but it’s clear they can’t ruin the fun.”
