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RILEY GAINES: World Cup visitors are reminding Americans what makes this country great

International visitors have flooded social media with videos praising American hospitality, diversity, and patriotism

By Riley Gaines Fox News

Published July 19, 2026 5:12pm EDT

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World Cup wrap-up

Gerry Baker hosts a panel discussion about the 2026 FIFA World Cup and its influence on American soft power. Jason Riley expresses skepticism about soccer's long-term popularity in the US, while Joseph Sternberg and Kim Strassel highlight how international visitors experienced American hospitality and daily life firsthand. The panelists debate whether the World Cup significantly boosted the country's global image.

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Some of the most wholesome stories on the internet lately haven't come from celebrities or influencers. They've come from people visiting America for the first time because of the World Cup.

Take Sebastian, for example. Sebastian is a German soccer fan who flew to the United States initially apprehensive.

Like so many people overseas, he'd spent years consuming headlines portraying America as a country overrun by crime, division and chaos. Before he even stepped off the plane, he was worried about his safety.

Sebastian watched Germany play Paraguay in Boston. After the game, he found himself stranded without a way back to his hotel. That's when he met a man named Bob.

Bob, a Japanese exploring America during the World Cup, became a social media sensation for his high-energy videos experiencing different facets of the United States during his first time travels across the nation. (Elizabeth Heckman)

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Bob didn't know Sebastian from Adam. He didn't ask about politics. He didn't care where he was from. He saw a man in need and didn’t think twice about helping out by giving him a ride back to his hotel.

In a video that's now been viewed millions of times, Sebastian........

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