As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, we received an unexpected gift from millions of World Cup visitors: a fresh reminder of what makes America exceptional.Tourists from dozens of countries descended on American cities this summer for the World Cup, or FIFA 2026, and what they found shattered everything their media had told them.They had been warned about an angry, divided, dangerous country in irreversible decline.
Instead, they found something so ordinary it became extraordinary: a country that looked nothing like the headlines they’d been told to believe.They found strangers holding doors, police officers posing for photos with kids, neighbors grilling in backyards, firefighters waving tourists over to see their fire engines, packed churches and thriving businesses.Communities celebrating together, not defined by the partisan noise that dominates their televisions back home.THE USA IS A FIFA WORLD CUP HIT AS VISITORS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE ARE IN LOVE WITH AMERICANAAnd they posted all of it to social media.
In the process, they created what may be the most effective marketing campaign America never paid for.Millions of visitors documenting, in real time, a version of America that looked nothing like the one portrayed in so many headlines.Scotland fans wearing kilts and playing bagpipes march to Fenway Park in Massachusetts on June 14, 2026.
(Bob Dechiara/Imagn Images)Visitors went viral marveling at the everyday abundance America offers.They posted videos gushing over free refills and ice water that just shows up at the table – no charge, no questions asked.
At Buc-ee's, which foreign tourists treated it like a national monument, they marveled at the spotless restrooms, brisket sandwiches and seemingly endless abundance.At Waffle House at one in the morning, they treated it like a Michelin-starred restaurant.
At Costco and Walmart, where entire aisles are devoted to a single product category.At Bass Pro Shops, which more than a few touris...