A German soccer fan has accidentally become America’s newest tourism ambassador — one Taco Bell run, a Buc-ee’s pilgrimage and a Chili’s dinner at a time.
Freddy, who posts on X as @FreddyLA7, has exploded in popularity after documenting his six-week World Cup road trip across the Southern United States with the kind of wide-eyed enthusiasm usually reserved for Disney World.
In just the past day alone, he’s picked up thousands of followers — including a few famous athletes — as Yanks collectively adopt him as the internet’s “favorite exchange student.”
His adventure began before he ever set foot in the US.
“The World Cup trip starts tomorrow,” Freddy wrote on June 3 alongside photos of a suitcase stuffed almost entirely with soccer jerseys. “Baggage all packed for 6 weeks in the USA and Canada. Traveling with hand luggage only, and 90% of it is jerseys.”
After a 24-hour layover in Dublin — where he squeezed in visits to Temple Bar, Trinity College and other landmarks — he declared he had “made the most” of his stop before heading stateside.
Even before arriving, he noticed World Cup fever.
“We’re all wearing our Germany jerseys and so many people at the airport keep asking us about the World Cup,” he noted. “There are already so many fans here in jerseys too, especially Scots.”
His first glimpse of New York City’s skyline from the plane wasn’t ideal, “but we still managed to get a small glimpse of the skyline,” he said.
Moments later, spotting FIFA-themed merchandise inside JFK Airport, his wallet was already in danger: “Just take my money.”
From there, Freddy and his friends flew to Atlanta, where his running commentary quickly won over Americans amused by his amazement at everyday life.
Driving past Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he could barely contain himself: “What a f—g stadium.” He also noticed World Cup advertisements plastered across the city.
“Even though the first World Cup game in Atlanta is still 9 days away, you can already feel the World Cup atmosphere.”
His review of Atlanta’s public transit, however, was a bit less glowing.
“Ngl riding the metro in Atlanta is a bit scary,” he warned fellow travelers, before delivering perhaps the most viral description of the trip so far.
“It’s like a GTA lobby,” he wrote, explaining that one passenger was taking off his shirt and “declaring war on Donald Trump” while another was “moonwalking across the platform.”
But transportation chaos couldn’t dampen his excitement for America’s fast-food institutions.
His first Taco Bell visit was simply dubbed: “The holy land.”
When followers began bombarding him with local recommendations, one trend particularly confused him.
“Why is every second comment telling me to go to a strip club?” he asked with crying emojis. “Is this a normal activity to do in America?”
He later experienced what might be an even greater culture shock: Walmart. Photos showed his shopping cart packed with World Cup socks, Gatorade and bottled water.
The culinary tour continued with a 1 a.m. stop at Waffle House, which earned glowing marks.
“Just had our first Waffle House experience at 1am. Great food, great prices, and friendly staff. 10/10, we will be coming back.”
His first Wendy’s meal later that day inspired another all-caps announcement: “WENDY’S ESCALATION!!!!!”
Then came the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine. Faced with more than 100 drink combinations, Freddy hilariously admitted defeat. “Lmao how am I supposed to choose from all of this? This is overwhelming me.”
Crossing into Tennessee brought another celebration: “TENNESSEE!!!! New state unlocked.”
That night, he documented what many Americans considered a rite of passage: eating a “Quesadilla Explosion Salad” at Chili’s while watching the NBA Finals.
One follower summed up the moment perfectly in a comment beneath Freddy’s post: “Tears in my eyes this is what it’s all about.”
The road trip only became “more American” from there.
Freddy mapped out a route toward Houston through Auburn, Alabama, asking followers for recommendations before arriving at Jordan-Hare Stadium to catch a pre-tournament Argentina vs. Iceland game.
“This is the craziest stadium I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a lot of ones,” he wrote after witnessing Auburn’s famed eagle flyover.
Looking around at the massive football venue, he admitted his European brain was struggling to process it: “This is the most ‘The European mind can’t comprehend this’ moment of my life.”
After the game, the tourists finally made another bucket-list stop: Buc-ee’s. Standing outside the sprawling convenience store and gas station, Freddy could only laugh at the iconic beaver statue and then devoured some sandwiches with his friends at 1 a.m.
The next day included a brief detour into Florida before the travelers returned to Alabama, where another unexpected discovery entered the soundtrack of their trip.
“The best discovery of our road trip has been a musician called Ella Langley,” Freddy wrote. “We’ve become big fans. She’s basically the soundtrack of our trip.”
On Thursday morning, as the group continued toward Houston with plans to reach New Orleans, another uniquely American stop left him speechless: Bass Pro Shops.
“I know some people will say I’m too positive about everything I see,” he wrote, “but this place was crazy.” He added, “They had a shooting range in the store. They were selling rifles in there.”
His infectious enthusiasm has now attracted attention far beyond ordinary soccer fans.
Retired Houston Texans superstar JJ Watt jumped into the conversation this week with an offer few visitors receive. “I got you covered in Houston big dog,” Watt wrote.
“Appreciate it,” Freddy replied. “You’re the man, let’s do this.” Watt then added: “Check your DM.”
Exactly what the NFL icon has planned remains unclear.
Online, Americans continue to embraced Freddy’s running travel diary as a wholesome reminder that sometimes the country’s biggest attractions aren’t famous monuments — they’re a Chili’s salad, a Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich and a gas station so enormous that it leaves European tourists questioning reality.
“I don’t think anyone has done a visit to the US better than this guy,” one X user wrote.
Another joked after seeing his Buc-ee’s visit: “He made it. He completed the pilgrimage. He is American now.”
Someone else chimed in: “Following this German guy go around America has been amazing.”
Over on Instagram, one fan perhaps put it best: “Freddy is legit the best thing that is happening for the World Cup and for the USA PR.”
