Moroccan fan Ayoub Baghdad arrived in the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and immediately noticed something beyond football - everything is massive. From oversized sodas to towering buildings, the scale difference has struck visiting supporters from countries like Morocco, Portugal, and Ghana.

About 75% of tournament matches are taking place across American soil, drawing international visitors eager to experience authentic US culture. Social media feeds overflow with fans sampling everything from Waffle House to Shake Shack, documenting their amazement at giant supermarkets and restaurant portions that dwarf what they're accustomed to back home.

Portuguese graduate students Lourenço Silva and João Valentim planned trips to Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas specifically for barbecue and seafood boils. They're not alone in seeking out these uniquely American experiences that seem pulled straight from movies and television shows.

Despite higher costs compared to Qatar 2022, Baghdad insists the cultural immersion makes the journey worthwhile. Meanwhile, English fans Jason Barnes and Harry Beckley stumbled into New York basketball celebrations after the Knicks captured their first NBA title in 53 years, potentially converting them to hoops fandom. These cultural exchanges may outlast the tournament itself.