New York ¨C Ahead of the World Cup, many international fans were skeptical of the idea of the U.S. as a cohost?for soccer¡¯s biggest tournament. There were worries over ?visa access, high costs, gun violence, a lack of local interest in the sport and more.
While those worries have not been entirely dispelled?as the tournament has gotten under way, social media has been flooded with posts from fans visiting the country for the first time and discovering something more positive ¡ª?a distinctive culture of 24-hour retail, free soda refills, chicken wings dipped in ranch dressing and a warm welcome from Americans.
¡°I met these two gorgeous girls from Boston,¡°?Tartan Army?Scottish fan Gail Nicholl said?in a Boston pub ?ahead of ?her team¡¯s first game against Haiti. ¡°It was her birthday, she ?was having cocktails. I bought her another one, and they kept saying ¡¯welcome to Boston, Massachusetts!¡¯?They loved us, we loved them ... Everyone is so friendly, so nice.¡±
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.