From poutine to barbecue, local cuisines give World Cup fans another reason to cheer

From poutine to barbecue, local cuisines give World Cup fans another reason to cheer 1 of 4 | People wearing World Cup shirts taste sandwiches at Pauli’s sandwich shop in the North End of Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 2 of 4 | Principal Paul Barker serves lobster rolls to World Cup tourists at Pauli’s sandwich shop in the North End of Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 3 of 4 | A man picks up a sandwich delivery at Pauli’s sandwich shop in the North End of Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 4 of 4 | Gary Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland, center right, watches a screen showing the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Canada during the FIFA Fan Festival on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Mike Householder) 1 of 4 | People wearing World Cup shirts taste sandwiches at Pauli’s sandwich shop in the North End of Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 1 of 4 People wearing World Cup shirts taste sandwiches at Pauli’s sandwich shop in the North End of Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 4 | Principal Paul Barker serves lobster rolls to World Cup tourists at Pauli’s sandwich shop in the North End of Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 2 of 4 Principal Paul Barker serves lobster rolls to World Cup tourists at Pauli’s sandwich shop in the North End of Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 4 | A man picks up a sandwich delivery at Pauli’s sandwich shop in the North End of Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 3 of 4 A man picks up a sandwich delivery at Pauli’s sandwich shop in the North End of Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 4 | Gary Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland, center right, watches a screen showing the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Canada during the FIFA Fan Festival on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Mike Householder) 4 of 4 Gary Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland, center right, watches a screen showing the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Canada during the FIFA Fan Festival on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Mike Householder) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] World Cup fans came from overseas for the cheering. But they’re also doing a lot of chewing, delighting their hosts with rave reviews of North American cuisine.“It’s greasy, it’s disgusting, but it’s absolutely glorious,” Jack Goodwin, a soccer enthusiast from London, said about the American food he has tried in Dallas, Boston, New York and Atlanta. “I don’t want to say this because it’s a little bit harsh, but the portions are a little bit larger — a lot more tastier — so I can understand the, um, obesity here. I don’t want to be harsh, but yes, the food is fantastic here.” International visitors want to try popular fast-food chains and local gemsMany fans are making a point to try regional specialties or chains they can’t find where they live, like In-N-Out Burger or Buc-ees convenience stores. Erling Haaland, a striker for Norway’s World Cup team, posted a photo on X of himself outside Katz’s Delicatessen in New York.Harrison Murphy, who was traveling from London with his brother for the knockout rounds, had breakfast at a Chick-fil-a in Atlanta this week.“Have you had Chick-fil-A? It was fantastic and so cheap. The sauces are free! It was remarkable,” Murphy said. “I said, ‘This is my first time, what should I try?’ The woman said, ‘You’ve got to try the Chick-fil-A sauce. My God, was it fantastic.”