World Cup Fans Marvel at 75% US Match Share, Giant Food Portions and Stores
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19
World Cup Fans Marvel at 75% US Match Share, Giant Food Portions and Stores
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19
Summary
Foreign fans arriving for the 2026 World Cup say the most striking early takeaway in the US is scale — from oversized drinks, roads and trucks to restaurant portions they could not finish.
About 75% of tournament matches are being played in the United States, drawing visitors beyond stadiums into supermarkets, chain restaurants and roadside stops such as Buc-ee's that have become social-media attractions.
Food has become a central part of the trip, with fans praising stronger flavors, free refills, chips and salsa, and trying American chains like Chipotle and Shake Shack alongside local barbecue plans in the South.
Some visitors also noted higher prices than at Qatar 2022 and a more subdued World Cup atmosphere, reflecting soccer's place in a US sports market still dominated by baseball, basketball and American football.
That mix of sticker shock, novelty and cross-country travel is shaping the US-hosted World Cup experience into a broader encounter with everyday American culture, not just the matches.