Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
The 2026 World Cup is kicking off next week, bringing people from all corners of the globe — if they’re allowed entry into the country by the government, that is — to the United States. One particular German fan in the Atlanta area has captured the attention of sports fans on social media.
The German national team is based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina — set up at the Graylyn Estate Hotel, a nearly 100-year-old former private estate just minutes from Wake Forest University, where they’re holding training sessions. The team arrived in Winston-Salem on June 8, ahead of their World Cup opener on June 14 against Curaçao.
Sports fans on social media are loving the adventures of a German soccer fan traveling through the South ahead of the World Cup
Ahead of their opening group stage game in Houston, a German fan — X/Twitter user @FreddyLA7 — has been traveling through the South and his adventures have been going viral on social media
Lmao how am I supposed to choose from all of this? This is overwhelming me😭😭😭 https://t.co/PBMhyA5BLt pic.twitter.com/Rq3Jel7y3G
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 8, 2026
Just had our first Waffle House experience at 1am. Great food, great prices, and friendly staff. 10/10, we will be coming back.😋 pic.twitter.com/QHgftpqfoX
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 8, 2026
The holy land pic.twitter.com/5v1gr8u7Co
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 7, 2026
WALMART ACTIONNNN!!!😁 pic.twitter.com/E0tF6uUDI2
— Freddy🇩🇪 (@FreddyLA7) June 8, 2026
@FreddyLA7 isn’t only taking in America via its rampant capitalism, though, as he’s also enjoying nature and architecture, with posts detailing his experiences tubing down Chattahoochee River, driving through Gainesville, soaking in lakes in Tennessee, and passing through Chattanooga.
His enthusiasm has provided one of the early viral storylines of the 2026 World Cup:
“Seeing a german discover Atlanta is mostly forest frying me bruh.”
“This German guy experiencing America for the first time is hysterical. Just waking up everyday and exploring. World Cup season rules hahaha.”
“My favorite thing about the World Cup so far is the German guy documenting his time in the southeast. Absolutely electric content.”
“My feed is 90% US vs UK stadium wars, 5% World Cup talk and then 5% that German guy visiting the US for the first time.”
“Living vicariously through this random German soccer fan who decided to spend the week leading up to the World Cup roaming around Georgia and documenting everything.”
“The German tourists are having the time of their lives lol.”
“I hope folks from elsewhere in the world get as much of a kick about Americans doing fun, local things as we do. “
“A German soccer fan hitting up WaHo at 1am just makes me smile.”
“Best part about the World Cup so far: German guy discovering Waffle House for the first time.”
“The English are on here moaning about everything and making school shooting jokes, meanwhile this German dude is having the time of his life.”
“I’m so entertained by this random german man live tweeting his experience in Atlanta. why didn’t anyone tell him to go to magic city???” one viral tweet wondered.
As it turns out, someone did tell @FreddyLA7 to venture to an adult entertainment center, as he posted:
“Why is every second comment telling me to go to a strip club? Is this a normal activity to do in America?😭😭” @FreddyLA7 asked.
After back-to-back group stage exits in 2018 and 2022, Germany landed in Group E with Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador — about as favorable a draw as a four-time World Cup champion could hope for. Julian Nagelsmann’s side opens June 14 against Curaçao in Houston, then faces Ivory Coast in Toronto on June 20, before wrapping up the group stage against Ecuador in New York on June 25.