New York: Ahead of the World Cup, many international fans were sceptical of the idea of the U.S. as co-hosts for football'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 got under way social media has been flooded with posts from fans visiting the country for the first time and discovering something more positive - a distinctive culture of 24-hour retail, free soda refills, chicken wings dipped in ranch dressing and a warm welcome from Americans.
