BBC correspondents arrived in the United States expecting muted enthusiasm for the 2026 World Cup. In New York, the NBA finals and the New York Knicks clinching their first title in 53 years dominated headlines, leaving the tournament to feel like another tourist attraction. Early impressions from Florida and Atlanta reinforced the sense that football was secondary to other sports. Fans in Manhattan crowded bars.

Journalists soon discovered pockets of genuine fervor. In Philadelphia, a fan festival at Lemon Hill drew nearly 55,000 spectators for the USA’s second group match, while Harlem’s diaspora‑focused gathering packed the venue with American‑born supporters of Caribbean and African nations. Across Los Angeles, Santa Monica cafés rolled out TVs, turning beachside promenades into impromptu viewing parties. Local musicians played national anthems loudly.

As the tournament progressed, the US men’s team sparked a surge of home‑grown chants, and stadiums in New Jersey, Boston and Kansas City reported full capacities, quashing fears of empty seats. Reporters noted that each city’s vibe differed—Boston’s Scottish Tartan Army, Seattle’s street‑wide celebrations—but overall the World Cup proved capable of capturing the American public’s imagination.