World Cup 2026: Football fever is increasingly gripping America - report on the American atmosphere

The 2026 World Championship is progressing and the Netherlands is of course watching with great attention. What is striking is not only the play on the field, but also the development of the tournament outside the lines - especially in the United States, one of the host countries of this World Cup. While there were questions beforehand about ticket prices and the level of experience, football fever now seems to be spreading.

In the first weeks of the tournament, many European journalists had the idea that the World Cup was just one of many events in cities such as New York. The local sports world was dominated by the New York Knicks, which meant that football seemed to fade into the background in the first few days.

This changed quickly. In New York, diaspora communities from participating countries organized massive gatherings and parties around matches of their 'home country'. That brought with it a primal feeling of the World Cup on American soil. In neighborhoods like Harlem it suddenly became busier at football events, and many Americans with foreign roots sought each other out in fan zones and cafes.

Atlanta and Philadelphia proved to be absolute World Cup cities. Fan zones attracted tens of thousands of visitors and stadiums, even at matches without the major countries, were full. The involvement of local fans, together with supporters from all over the world, produced special scenes. Colombian and Mexican supporters, Cape Verdeans and Scots – they all made their voices heard. Even Americans who don't usually follow football were captivated by the unique atmosphere.

Each city experienced the World Cup in its own way. Philadelphia went all in, Boston and Kansas City embraced football, while fans in Los Angeles partied in the streets and lit fireworks after Mexico games. The fan zones at places like the Santa Monica Pier and Lemon Hill offered space for thousands of frenzied spectators.

The skeptics who were positively surprised by the enthusiasm for the World Cup can now only conclude: football fever has broken out in the United States. The spectator numbers are high, the atmosphere in and around the stadiums is exuberant and the experience comes at least close to previous World Cup tournaments in Brazil, Russia and Qatar.

Local Americans, diaspora fans and neutral visitors contribute to the festive character. The colours, music and culinary traditions of the participating countries are welcomed with open arms. The United States thus proves that the 2026 World Cup has become not only a sporting, but also a major social and cultural event.

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