NPR is having a normal one, throwing shade at America as we host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to NPR's immigration correspondent Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, U.S. immigration policies are casting a pall over the entire affair.
President Trump's restrictive immigration policies are already impacting this year's 2026 FIFA World Cup.
At least one referee from Somalia and one Iraqi team staff member were denied entry at U.S. airports in recent days, and dozens of fans from countries such as Morocco have been denied travel visas, despite being ticket holders.
Tickets for the opening match of the United States at the World Cup have still not sold out. The game will take place on Friday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Ca., which will be renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament.
With just days left, the U.S. opening match at the World Cup is still not sold out
"I view the 2026 World Cup as a massive paradox," said Jules Boykoff, a professor and the author of Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing and the FIFA Greed Machine. "On one hand, it has more teams than ever participating. On the other hand, because of the policies of the Trump administration, it looks more like a World Cup of exclusion than inclusion."
Thank goodness a German X user named Freddy, and several other European visitors touring the U.S. ahead of the World Cup events, are paying no attention to the Debbie Downers at NPR and on the left.
It will be three years since we traveled across the country from California to Alabama and took our time, like these young people are doing, to explore the heartland and connect with the people who live there. Even just our photo journey on social media inspired others and gave them a fresh viewpoint on the country that they didn't have before. America is a beautiful place, and its people are unique, diverse, and fully knit into the tapestry of our nation. What unites us is greater than what divides us, and what unites us is a shared aim to secure the blessings of liberty and defend and celebrate our freedoms.
As my colleague Teri Christoph so beautifully penned, these tourists from Germany, Sweden, and even embattled Britain are having the time of their lives as they explore the sights, sounds, and foods that are uniquely American and that can only be experienced if you get out of the cities and cultivated silos and engage with your fellow Americans.
Christoph wrote:
Let's face it, it's a beautiful thing to watch visitors from other countries discover and actually appreciate our country and all it has to offer. We've endured too many years of hearing leftists trash the U.S. – and watching too many of them physically try to burn it to the ground – that watching a visitor experiencing its many charms is a welcome change.
Much like parents rediscovering the joys of Christmas when they see it through their childrens' eyes and appreciate once again the magic that may have faded away over the years, we Americans clearly love seeing others appreciate what we love about our country. Yes, an abundance of food and entertainment choices, but also a patriotism that's always on display, but especially so right now as we prepare to celebrate our 250th birthday.
Amen to that. Christoph ended her VIP with Freddy's plans to head to the great state of Alabama, and to hit Buc-ees along the way.
Well, achievement unlocked:
DUDE LMAO THIS IS A GAS STATION😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/YYFmWJiCQa
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 10, 2026
Buc-ees brisket is divine any hour of the day, my friend.
Dinner from Buc-ee’s at 1am😋 pic.twitter.com/1p0iZLfmOW
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 10, 2026
And when Freddy reached Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL, to attend a World Cup goodwill game between champion Argentina and Iceland on Tuesday, Freddy was absolutely kvelling.
This is the most “The European mind can’t comprehend this” moment of my life. One of my friends said, “Punch me five times tomorrow and I’ll still think this isn’t real.” pic.twitter.com/FWYOY8iyDF
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 10, 2026
The release of War Eagle absolutely blew his mind.
There’s an eagle flying around the stadium pic.twitter.com/luC6ENq7oM
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 10, 2026
And what a treat: Freddy got to see fireworks in a state that is wide open with minimal fire hazards and regulations.
What an experience pic.twitter.com/QxvwYI0x9E
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 10, 2026
So, from Freddy's and others' spontaneous experiences, this latest poll about how Americans are less than enthusiastic about celebrating our 250th Anniversary is hot garbage and needs to be thrown right in the trash can.
Enthusiasm about the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary clearly reflects the partisan gap: more than twice as many Republicans (74%) as Democrats (35%) are excited about the milestone. Fully 84% of MAGA Republicans are excited compared to 57% of non-MAGA Republicans. More than half of veterans (55%), White men without a college degree (63%), and White evangelical Christians (70%) are also excited.
For those who are unenthused: You need to take a page from these European youngsters, hop in your car, and explore the real America. My husband and I did this quite often, even when we lived out West. Because California is so vast, we often didn't need to travel far.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to find those small towns and cities around you where community, faith, and freedom are a way of life, and not just some tautological sign you place on your lawn to virtue signal. As long as people remain mired in the bigoted representations they hold or their carefully curated moments where they fly in, do their thing, fly out, and still claim they've explored the country, they will never get an appreciation of how uniquely connected we are or what it truly means to be an American.
Read More: German Tourist Charms the Internet As He Discovers the Wonders of the U.S.
Trump Admin Rejects Somali Referee Tied to Suspected Terror Groups
This one post from Freddy truly shows the heartbeat of America: we love those who show appreciation for the land that we love, and we love to be of help whenever we can.
I love Americans. We were about to walk an hour to the stadium in the rain to save on an Uber, and the receptionist at the hotel we were parked in front of decided to drive us there.🙏 pic.twitter.com/ta9crNM0ok
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 9, 2026
Even Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy noticed Freddy's journey and applauded his experiences. Duffy also affirmed what many of us know: in order to love America, you have to get out and go see America.
🇺🇸 HAVE YOU SEEN THIS? 🇺🇸
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) June 10, 2026
Meet FREDDY, he’s a German soccer fan in the U.S. for the World Cup and he is experiencing the BEAUTY of America from the road
Here are Freddy’s highlights:
⛰️BRASSTOWN BALD: THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN GEORGIA
🍽️ CHILI’S IN CHATTANOOGA
⚽️JORDAN-HARE… https://t.co/1kAHOfYNUn
🇺🇸 HAVE YOU SEEN THIS? 🇺🇸
Meet FREDDY, he’s a German soccer fan in the U.S. for the World Cup and he is experiencing the BEAUTY of America from the road
Here are Freddy’s highlights:
⛰️BRASSTOWN BALD: THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN GEORGIA
🍽️ CHILI’S IN CHATTANOOGA
⚽️JORDAN-HARE STADIUM AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY
⛽️BUC-EE’S IN ALABAMA
There’s no better way to see our country than on a road trip! Because to LOVE AMERICA you have to SEE AMERICA
Where should Freddy go next?
Comment below and follow his journey @FreddyLA7 ⬇️
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