More than a week into the tournament, World Cup fans are delivering moments that few of us are likely to forget.
A key feature of any major sports event is fans from all around the world introducing themselves to the locals in their own special way. And World Cup 2026 is no different.
Whether it’s Scotland fans drinking Boston bars dry, Mexican street ducks being dubbed unofficial team mascots, or Norwegian supporters rowing their way up subway escalators, fans have made it clear that they’re here for a good time.
As the soccer tournament heats up, here are some of the most iconic moments captured on camera so far.
‘The holy land’: Meet Freddy, the German fan touring America
While other fans are watching matches, one German supporter has turned the rest of his World Cup trip into appointment viewing.
A traveling fan known online as Freddy has been chronicling his journey through American life on social media, racking up a massive following while gushing about everything from Waffle House menus to a Taco Bell drive-through he called “the holy land” to a Buc-ee’s “somewhere in Texas.”
Freddy has become a kind of unofficial ambassador for the everyday American experience — and was recently invited to the White House.
New Zealand defender’s Instagram following jumps from 5,000 to nearly 6 million
Tim Payne, a New Zealand defender, has seen his Instagram audience grow more than a thousandfold this week — from fewer than 5,000 to more than 5.9 million. The reason: Argentine soccer influencer Valen Scarsini ran a campaign asking fans to dig up and follow the most obscure player at the tournament, ESPN reported.
Scotland fans drink Boston bars dry
A wave of Scottish World Cup supporters flooded into Boston to watch Group C’s opening match between Haiti and Scotland at Boston Stadium.
Local bar owners said the fans guzzled so much beer that bars couldn’t keep up, and many started running out of stock.
Fans were particularly fond of Tennent’s lager, an iconic Scottish beer. Local distributors reportedly ran out after vast amounts were consumed.
“The fans are unbelievable. They’re drinking, partying, and having a great time,” one bar owner said.
Merlin the duck becomes Mexico’s unofficial mascot
A domesticated duck named Merlin has waddled his way into the hearts of football fans.
Merlin’s fame ignited during street celebrations in Mexico City following the cohosts’ 2–0 victory over South Africa in last week’s opening match.
The duck is seen sporting a miniature Mexico jersey and custom duck socks. His owner, street merchant Karla Gomez, said fans had been stopping to take photos with Merlin since he was spotted in a football shirt on the capital’s busy Reforma Avenue.
“I’m Merlin’s mom. I already consider myself as such,” Gomez told Reuters. “For us, it has been a surprise, truly. The fact that Merlin is the unofficial mascot of the World Cup … we feel very pleased about such a situation, and above all, that people love my duck.”
‘I cannot speak English but … I AM EXCITED’
One traveling Japanese supporter may not speak fluent English, but that didn’t get in the way of him conveying his excitement on TV.
The keen fan, named Hirochika Nakakuki, spoke to Fox 4 ahead of Japan’s opening match against the Netherlands, which ended in a 2–2 draw at Dallas Stadium.
“I cannot speak English but … I AM EXCITED,” he told the reporter.
Japanese fans clean up stadium
Hirochika’s fellow Japanese fans have also stolen locals’ hearts by cleaning up the stadium after attending a match.
While many fans headed for the exits, Japanese supporters took out trash bags to help with the cleanup, putting cups and wrappers into the trash before they left.
Japanese culture is deeply rooted in Shinto beliefs, in which everyday items are seen as spiritual and worthy of respect.
According to CBS News, the Japanese men’s team even left their locker room spotless without being asked.
The Tartan Army descends on a baseball game
It’s not just the bars of Boston where Scottish fans are making their presence known.
Thousands of Scots took over the city’s Fenway Park stadium on Sunday, June 14, cheering on the Boston Red Sox as they played the Texas Rangers.
More than 10,000 members of the traveling “Tartan Army” marched to the 114-year-old baseball stadium in kilts and playing bagpipes.
Even though many of the traveling Scots had never watched a baseball game before, they completely stole the show.
They kept the party going long after the game ended, singing soccer-style songs in support of team talisman John McGinn, U.S. classic “Country Roads,” and “No Scotland, No Party,” leaving players from both teams blown away by the electric stadium atmosphere.
The Texas Rangers won the game 6–4, but the Scottish fans won the night. They even got
Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey , who also signed an “executive order” making Scottish dish haggis legal in the state, said of the supporters: “The Tartan Army has brought the energy, joy, and enthusiasm to Massachusetts. This is truly what the World Cup is all about”
Norwegians are rowing
Thousands of Norway supporters in the stands are celebrating the World Cup by coordinating the synchronized row associated with a Viking longship.
The ritual blew up on social media following Norway’s opening match at Boston Stadium, where they defeated Iraq 4–1, fueled by two goals from Erling Haaland.
After the final whistle, the traveling Norwegian fans sat together in the stands, chanted in unison, and rocked back and forth as if they were rowing an imaginary ship toward the pitch. They even rowed up escalators.
It has quickly become one of the signature fan celebrations of the 2026 tournament, with the ritual now spreading to venues across the U.S.
Congo fans’ joyful moment
When Yoane Wissa scored a dramatic first-half stoppage-time equalizer, it marked the first World Cup goal in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s history.
Having waited 52 years to return to the World Cup, a small pocket of fans watching on the big screen in Lisbon — nestled among a sea of Portuguese supporters — couldn’t contain their emotions, leaping about in joy.
The team ended up holding on for a draw and securing a point against a soccer giant containing none other than Cristiano Ronald in their ranks.
