World Cups are about more than goals and results. Every tournament develops its own cast of unexpected stars and memorable side stories, with social media ensuring the funniest, strangest and most heartwarming moments can spread around the world in minutes.
The 2026 tournament is only in its opening days, yet fans have already embraced everything from a German tourist's love affair with Waffle House to a Kansas college town adopting Algeria as its second football team.
Here are 12 viral moments that have captured the internet's attention so far.
Germany's favourite American road trip
German football fan Freddy has become one of the World Cup's first breakout stars despite not kicking a ball. Travelling across the US en route to matches, he has documented every stop on social media, attracting hundreds of thousands of followers eager to watch him discover America one chain restaurant at a time.
Freddy's enthusiasm for everyday American life has become the joke. Taco Bell was described as “the holy land”, a late-night Waffle House visit earned a glowing review, and Buc-ee's left him in disbelief.
He has posted excited dispatches from Walmart, Wendy's and Chili's, while marvelling at Atlanta's greenery and struggling to choose a drink from a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine. As one social media user observed: “Man is having the most regular time and loving it.”
Lawrence, Kansas adopts Algeria
When Algeria selected Lawrence, Kansas, as its World Cup base camp, few expected the city to embrace the team quite so enthusiastically. Yet within days, the Midwestern college town had become one of the tournament's most unexpected feel-good stories.
Hundreds of supporters attended an open training session at Rock Chalk Park, with children wearing Algerian face paint, supporters draped in green, white and red flags, and University of Kansas band, the Marching Jayhawks, performing Algeria's national anthem before training began.
The story has gone viral because of the genuine affection that has developed between the city and its temporary guests. Videos show residents thanking Algeria for choosing Lawrence, while one young Kansan told reporters he felt “Algerian” after spending time among supporters.
South Korea's growing friendship with Mexico
The friendship between South Korean and Mexican supporters is one of football's more unusual alliances, and the 2026 World Cup has brought it back into the spotlight. Across Mexico's host cities, videos have emerged showing fans from both countries sharing food, songs and celebrations before either side has even kicked a ball.
The bond dates back to South Korea's famous victory over Germany at the 2018 World Cup, which helped Mexico progress to the knockout stages. Eight years later, Mexican fans have not forgotten. Supporters have been filmed chanting “Korea, Korea, Korea” in the streets, while another viral clip showed fans from both nations performing Psy's Gangnam Style together in a crowded bar.
Three red cards and a referee nobody could understand
Opening matches are usually cautious affairs. Mexico's victory over South Africa was anything but. The tournament opener descended into chaos with three red cards, prompting jokes online that the World Cup had skipped the group-stage pleasantries and gone straight to knockout-round drama.
The match produced another viral moment when Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio used Fifa's new stadium announcement system to explain a VAR decision. Many viewers claimed they could barely understand what he was saying, sparking a wave of parody subtitles, fake translations and reaction videos. Some supporters joked that the explanation only made the decision more confusing.
Erling Haaland becomes a hockey fan
Most players spend the days before a World Cup opener resting or studying opponents. Erling Haaland spent his watching ice hockey. The Norwegian striker attended game five of the NHL Stanley Cup Final in Raleigh, North Carolina, alongside several teammates before his country's first World Cup appearance since 1998.
When Haaland appeared on the giant screen, he enthusiastically waved a Carolina Hurricanes rally towel and instantly became a viral hit. The sight of one of football's most feared forwards looking like an excited hockey fan delighted social media and offered a reminder of the unique experiences created by a North American World Cup. Usually seen terrorising defenders in the Premier League, Haaland looked more like a tourist enjoying a night out with friends.
The referee camera that looked straight out of science fiction
Fifa's new referee-mounted camera has delivered some fascinating footage, but it is the appearance of the technology that really captured the internet's attention. During the opening match, referee Sampaio's collection of cameras, microphones and communication devices turned him into one of the tournament's first meme stars.
Fans compared the Brazilian official to a cyborg, a drone operator and a video game character, while edited images exaggerated the amount of equipment he appeared to be carrying. Others joked he looked less like a referee and more like a one-man television production crew.
Opening ceremony backlash
Every World Cup opening ceremony divides opinion, and Mexico City's spectacle proved no different. While many praised the performances by Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin and Mana, others questioned whether the event matched the scale associated with previous World Cup opening ceremonies.
The National’s resident music critic Saeed Saeed described the ceremony as “bright and zippy … perhaps a bit too zippy”, ultimately concluding that it felt “a tad undercooked”.
Social media quickly filled with memes, reaction posts and criticism, while some fans compared it unfavourably to previous World Cup opening ceremonies.
Merlin the duck becomes Mexico's unofficial mascot
Merlin, a two-year-old duck from Mexico City, has gone viral after videos show him waddling through celebrations wearing a miniature Mexico shirt and tiny shoes.
Following Mexico's opening victory over South Africa, supporters quickly embraced Merlin, with clips of the bird attracting millions of views online. Comparisons have already been made to Paul the Octopus, the unlikely star of the 2010 World Cup, but Merlin's appeal lies in his simplicity. What began as a routine outing with owner Karla Gomez has transformed the duck into one of the most recognisable faces of the tournament's opening days.
Scotland accidentally takes over Fenway Park
The Tartan Army travelled to the US to watch football and somehow ended up stealing the show at a baseball game.
Following Scotland's victory over Haiti, thousands of supporters descended on Boston's Fenway Park to watch the Red Sox. What followed was a collision of sporting cultures that quickly spread across social media. Bagpipes echoed around the stadium, chants dedicated to midfielder John McGinn broke out in the stands and bewildered baseball fans found themselves immersed in Scottish football culture. The atmosphere proved so memorable that local commentators joked they did not want the supporters to leave.
Norway fans turn an escalator into a Viking ship
One of the tournament's most light-hearted clips emerged in Boston, where Norway supporters transformed a long escalator into an imaginary Viking longship.
Standing in rows and singing together, fans pretended to row as they travelled upwards, creating a scene that quickly spread across social media. The video lasted only a few seconds, but it perfectly captured the tournament atmosphere. Goofy, harmless and entirely spontaneous, it is exactly the kind of supporter-led moment that often becomes part of World Cup folklore.
Japanese fans discover Texas
While football may be their reason for travelling to the US, Japanese supporters have become just as fascinated by Texas itself.
Social media has been filled with videos of fans documenting their discoveries across the Lone Star State, from famous barbecue restaurants and giant steaks to Walmart, school buses and mechanical bulls. One supporter described Texas as a place where “everything is big”, while another went viral after declaring the bread at Texas Roadhouse “mind-blowingly delicious”. Others marvelled at complimentary chips and salsa appearing on restaurant tables before they had ordered.
The cultural exchange has become part of the charm, with Japanese fans introducing Texans to the word oishii – meaning delicious or good – while locals have guided visitors through barbecue platters and In-N-Out orders.
Jameis Winston joins Japanese fans to clean the stadium
Japanese supporters have also become famous for cleaning up after themselves at major tournaments. Yet at the 2026 World Cup, they received an unexpected helping hand from an NFL star.
After Japan's dramatic 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Dallas, New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston joined supporters in collecting rubbish from the stands. Winston, who is working as a Fox Sports correspondent during the tournament, was seen carrying a blue rubbish bag while wearing a custom Japan shirt bearing his name and number.
The gesture resonated because it highlights a tradition that has become synonymous with Japanese football supporters since their first World Cup appearance in 1998, combining an admired tradition with one of American football's most recognisable personalities.
Speaking afterwards, Winston said he was inspired by the respect fans showed towards the stadium, the tournament and the sport itself. He was particularly impressed by the way supporters carefully separated different types of waste while cleaning up.
