World Cup tourists discover America — and delight us all

The 2026 World Cup is generating a veritable army of modern-day de Tocquevilles discovering America.Why it matters: It's a huge moment for U.S. soft power, as the country nears its 250 birthday with a mixed global reputation at best.Driving the news: Boston welcoming Scottish fans is the off-the-pitch story of the tournament so far.The Scots seem enamored with Beantown, and vice versa.They drank the Sam Adams brewery dry. They brought soccer superfan energy to Fenway (one wee lad took home a souvenir). They're cleaning up after themselves, too.One Scottish fan even reviewed an American emergency room in Taunton, Mass.They'll later visit Miami, where Scotland has their final group stage match on June 24 versus Brazil.Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has since announced a formal partnership with Glasgow, local media reports.Then there's "Freddy," the Germany fan whose low-budget odyssey across America has gone viral.His awe-inspired takes on U.S. arenas, food and even gas stations (Buc-ees and Waffle House got rave reviews) have captured the hearts of millions of Americans, helping us see ourselves only the way an open-minded tourist with fresh eyes can.A Japan supporter has racked up over 16 million views on their downright poetic missive about free chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant."In my land, hospitality is a debt. Obligation, weighed carefully, returned in the proper season with interest of feeling.""Here, the gift arrives before you have even proven you can pay for dinner. This is not an appetizer. This is a declaration: we trust you. Eat."Like the Scots, Japanese fans are also winning over hearts and minds with their tradition of cleaning up arenas after games.Yes, but: It's not all rosy — some Europeans are struggling in the heat of the Southern summer, as predicted."We owe America an apology," one England fan posted. "I have just landed for the World Cup and they have been right about the heat this whole time."What they're saying: Yves Dominique, a first-generation Haitian living in Atlanta who flew to Boston for last weekend's Haiti-Scotland match, told Axios' Steph Solis: "This is like no other World Cups. People come in from all places, and they're just here to have fun.""That's what soccer does. That's what fútbol does."The bottom line: Welcome to America, soccer fans. We're glad to have you.