Beyond the Clichés: What World Cup Visitors Saw of America The United States is a nation of contradictions, where abundance coexists with scarcity, and identities are forged and erased in equal measure.
It's no surprise that international visitors for the soccer World Cup encountered both familiar and unknown aspects of American culture.
For many, initial impressions were shaped by news headlines and social media soundbites: America as a land of freedom, but also great division; a country where politics is a contentious issue, and strangers are often viewed with suspicion.