THE 2026 World Cup caused a sensation in the United States, setting television audience records as millions of fans packed stadiums to watch all the action.
What happened off the field was arguably just as exciting, as people from all over the world traveled to the United States not only to see their favorite teams and players play, but also to engage in a cultural exchange with Americans.
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As the World Cup comes to a close with Sunday’s final, here are some of the best off-field moments from the summer tournament.
The love story between Algeria and Kansas CityKansas City was the smallest host city in the United States, but that didn’t stop Algerian fans from throwing a big party in the Midwest. Kansas City hosted a group match between Argentina and Algeria, which drew fans from both countries to a city of just over 500,000 people.
The Algerian contingent seemed particularly pleased with their trip, with many also enjoying their stay in nearby Lawrence, Kansas.
“A lot of people don’t even know Algeria exists. And it’s the same for us. We had never heard of Lawrence until the Algerian team came here. The people were very, very welcoming and they embraced the Algerian team,” Hanafi Habbas told NBC affiliate KSHB in Kansas City.
David Sauter, who runs a local T-shirt printing company in Lawrence, said his sales exceeded his typical Christmas numbers.
“It’s so wonderful to see how everyone here has been open with open arms, welcoming people. The Algerians have been incredible,” Sauter said.
“Viking Row” is a sensationBy participating in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, Norway quickly endeared itself to the greater football community thanks to its now famous “Viking Row” celebration.
Imitating a group of Vikings in a rowboat, Norwegian fans typically celebrate while seated at a match, chanting “Row! » as they pull imaginary oars to the beat of a drum.
During the World Cup, Norwegian fans celebrated everywhere, including at a New York Mets game at Citi Field, in Times Square and even on an escalator in Boston. The Norwegian team finally got to celebrate with a game of their own after a 3-2 win over Senegal in the group stage.
“It’s about rowing for the team,” Ole Frøystad, the fan credited with popularizing the celebration, told NBC News. “We make sure the team feels good on the pitch, that they perform as they should and support them in every way possible.”
Everyone loves ranch dressingOf all the American foods that caught the attention of foreigners during the World Cup — from gas stations like Buc-ees to restaurants like Waffle House — perhaps no product excited soccer fans as much as ranch dressing.
Ranch seemed to take the World Cup by storm, at one point even attracting a response from the TSA, who playfully warned fans against taking bottles out of the country.
The Tartan Army TakeoverScottish football fans, known as the Tartan Army, made their presence felt during the World Cup in cities including Boston and Miami.
In Miami, thousands of Scottish fans marched from a local bar to a Miami Marlins baseball game, bringing with them their iconic kilts and bagpipes.
Most memorably, in Boston, the Tartan Army partied so hard they started drinking the bars dry. The company behind the beer, Sam Adams, told NBC Boston that its Boston Taproom ran out of Samuel Adams Boston Lager one weekend because of the Tartan Army, which drank four times as much beer as was consumed on a typical four-day weekend.
“We’ve never seen anything like this,” Billy DeCain of the Sam Adams Boston Taproom told NBC Boston.
The lemonade stand with an international fan baseA Texas family made lasting memories after their backyard lemonade stand attracted visitors from around the world.
Heather Hannish and her husband, Ernesto Gloria, sold lemonades and other cold drinks for $2 from their stand in the courtyard along the promenade leading to the stadium hosting the games in Arlington, Texas. Hannish and Gloria met fans from as far away as Japan and India and began keeping a notebook in which visitors could leave messages.
“Being able to share that is something that I can’t even begin to articulate or even really fully understand,” Hannish told KXAS-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth. “I think the reality is that most people have really good hearts and just want the best for everyone.”