European
fans of soccer’s World Cup and Federation International de Football
Association (FIFA) changed how Americans view soccer and how Europeans and
other foreign nationals view America.
For decades,
the mainstream press in Europe and in America always portrayed America as a violent
and horrible place to visit and Americans as bumbling, uncultured, uneducated, loud,
and mean spirited. Not anymore!
The 2026 World
Cup became the biggest free advertising platform for the beauty of America and
its lovely people. FIFA estimates that the Men’s World Cup attracted an
audience of 3.5 billion people from the estimated 3.5-5 billion fans globally
in South America, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe.
The Scots,
with their large army of fans in kilts and bag pipe players, and the Viking fans
with their rowing chants became the biggest free advertisers for America on
social media platforms.
The Scots
emptied bars of beer in Boston and Miami. The cheering for their team was
infectious. They were happy that their team made it to the World Cup after 28
years. Many fans spent their lives’ savings coming to America for this event and
were quite happy about it as a once in a lifetime occasion.
The Orange
Legion, made up of passionate Dutch supporters has brought the Orange Bus to
every European Championship and every World Cup since 1970s, sending the bus by
ship to reach their destinations.
The Orange
Bus is the central point of the Dutch rallies and has traveled to South Africa,
Brazil, and Qatar. It arrived in America in Galveston and then traveled north
to Houston. The fan group is known for high-energy marches, 2.5 miles or
longer, and synchronized dancing.
The Vikings fans
with their orange bus and the Scots who traveled across America from Boston,
following their teams, taught Americans how to be devoted, highly entertaining
and synchronized fans.
Once the
bagpipes left the Boston area, the song, No Scotland, No Party, became the
siren call of other game locations.
What did the
European fans find out about America?
American
people smile to strangers, are fun, friendly, welcoming, and happy.
America is
vast and beautiful with majestic landscapes and long roads.
American
healthcare is the best they have ever encountered.
American
food is delicious and as varied as its diverse population. Portions are much
larger than European ones. Buffets are everywhere. Waffle House serves food at
2 a.m. Yeast rolls and bagels are delicious.
Buc-ee’s is the best and
largest gas station they have ever seen and the stores and restrooms are
immaculately clean.
Parking lots are plentiful and found adjacent to the places Americans go to shop and eat, not miles away from a venue.
Americans
love their cars and drive miles and miles to their favorite restaurants and
stores. I am one of those Americans who used to drive 67 miles to a favorite mall
and restaurant in the south.
America is
young when compared to senescent Europe, but it showcases many well-preserved
historical places, museums, amazing parks like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone,
and natural wonders with archeological sites.
More
Americans own homes than Europeans do and Airbnb houses brought many
international fans together.
European
fans enjoyed American life in general and American hospitality, including that
of police officers.
Novelties
like the Bass Pro Shops and the ice machines were on the list of things
Europeans loved. I am not sure how much
hunting and fishing there is in Europe. But, if you ask for ice, you are eventually
offered two cubes per glass with an irritated face. They believe drinking anything
cold is not good for your health.
European
fans happily discovered that air conditioning is present everywhere and people
do not develop pneumonia or sore throats from A/C like Europeans believe. Unlike
Europe where electricity is expensive on purpose “to save the planet,”
Americans can afford to run their air conditioners and other appliances at the
same time, without short-circuiting the entire block.
The moral of
the story about all the free and positive advertising America received? Never
trust the mainstream media! People with similar cultures have more in common
than the talking heads are allowed to think and speak. Americans are a proud
and friendly people who love sports and a good party.
