World Cup tourist shares honest verdict on USA after ‘so many stereotypes and warnings’

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This summer’s World Cup has given soccer fans from around the globe a different view of America.

The 2026 tournament was held primarily in the USA, with supporters having plenty of time to experience the culture for themselves.

It is probably fair to say that the general perception of America in the global media has not been that positive in recent years, but soccer fans who actually visited the country for themselves are coming away with a different view.

German soccer fan says America ‘probably the most welcoming country’

One German soccer fan previously shared that he ‘was scared to visit America’ for the World Cup due to what he had seen in the media, but his stance changed during his trip.

Now, another German supporter, ‘FreddyLA7’, who went viral during the tournament as he documented his journey across the US, has mentioned that he had ‘heard so many stereotypes and warnings about America’ before visiting for the World Cup.

But ahead of finally preparing to leave the United States, he’s revealed that it ‘was probably the most welcoming country we’ve ever visited’.

He stated: “49 days ago we landed in the USA to follow our country at the World Cup. We had no idea it would turn into the trip of a lifetime. Thank you to everyone who followed along, and to all the people we met who made this journey even more special.

“We honestly don’t have the words to express how grateful we are for everything you did for us. This trip exceeded every expectation we had. We came here with an open mind, wanting to experience as much of the country as possible. I still remember telling my friends on the flight to Atlanta that I hoped we’d get to meet a few locals on this trip. Now we’re flying home with friends all across the USA.

“Before we came, we heard so many stereotypes and warnings about America. People told us about safety concerns, that they might check our social media at the border, and all kinds of other things. None of it matched our experience. This was probably the most welcoming country we’ve ever visited. So if you have the chance to travel, do it. The world isn’t nearly as bad as the media often makes it seem.

“99% of people are awesome! I heard this quote somewhere during the World Cup, and I think it sums up our experience perfectly: ‘If you want to hate the world, watch the news. If you want to love it, travel it.’ Thank you, America.”