They’re standing in front of Buc-ees with iPhone cameras rolling, marveling in the aisles of Walmart, ordering stacks of waffles at Waffle House, and walking through city parks amazed that they feel safe–that women can carry their purses over their shoulder without being robbed.

Did we realize how difficult and disturbing life is for so many in countries throughout the world?

One gentleman visitor was terrified to drive across the United States at night. No one in his home country of South Africa would risk their life in such a way. He was absolutely amazed that not only was he safe, but that the people they encountered along the way were so friendly and helpful. And that’s a common refrain: Americans are incredibly warm and welcoming. We knew this, but we’ve forgotten it because most of what we hear about our country, as well as what people all over the world hear, is negative. We’re told we’re racist. We’re homophobic. We’re selfish. We’re destroying our own country with our capitalistic greed.

How nice to be shown the truth of who we are. That when push comes to shove, we’re thrilled to be woken up by a troop of Scottish bagpipers outside of our Boston house at 6:30 am and we then invite them in for breakfast after the impromptu concert. That’s the America I know and love.

The America I love is being demonstrated in small towns all across this country. Kansas has produced some of the warmest World Cup stories so far.

The biggest one is the unlikely love affair between the Algerian national team and the college town of Lawrence. Algeria chose Lawrence as its base camp, and the town embraced them completely. Residents started showing up to welcome the team, local businesses put up Algerian flags, and the University of Kansas marching band even learned the Algerian national anthem. Videos of the welcome went viral, with many people calling it one of the most wholesome stories of the tournament.

Algeria’s coach said he was surprised by how warmly Americans received the team. He specifically mentioned the emotional scenes of local Kansans greeting players and making them feel at home thousands of miles from North Africa.

Meanwhile, Kansas City has become one giant international party. The Fan Festival drew registrations from 153 countries, and visitors have been gathering on the lawn of the National WWI Museum to watch matches, eat barbecue, listen to music, and mingle with fans from around the world.

One of the recurring themes in Kansas coverage is that visitors expected a stereotypical “flyover state” and instead found crowds, hospitality, music, sports culture, and people eager to welcome them. Kansas City has leaned hard into its reputation as the “Soccer Capital of America.”

The Scots–known as the “Tartan Army”–have flooded Boston by the tens of thousands, filling pubs, marching through downtown, taking over Fenway Park, and turning city streets into a festival. Many Bostonians have responded with warmth and amusement rather than annoyance.

After Scotland’s win over Haiti, Scottish fans marched to Fenway Park wearing kilts and carrying flags. Boston residents joined in, and social media was filled with comments about how much the city was enjoying the visitors.

One Scottish fan told reporters, “The people of Boston have been so welcoming to us. Everyone’s so friendly.”

There have been dozens of smaller moments too: Scottish and Haitian fans have been spotted singing and dancing together in train stations and public spaces throughout the city. A Boston police sergeant became an unexpected social media star after juggling a soccer ball with fans at Fan Fest. Scottish supporters packed Fenway Park for a Red Sox game during a special Scottish Heritage Night, where they received an enthusiastic welcome from local fans. Across the city, businesses, bars, and neighborhoods have embraced the influx of visitors, creating an atmosphere that many describe as festive and genuine.

One columnist summed it up this way: “Boston has won the World Cup–we got the Tartan Army.”

What makes these stories memorable is that they are not really about soccer. They are about ordinary Americans and ordinary Scots discovering they enjoy each other’s company. That simple human connection is why so many of the videos and stories have resonated around the world.

As the tournament rolls on from coast to coast, the goals and standings will continue to dominate the headlines. But tucked between the match reports are stories of neighbors welcoming strangers, fans sharing meals, and visitors discovering a side of America they didn’t expect to find. In an era when so much of the world is experienced through screens and stereotypes, millions of people are seeing a country–and its people–for themselves. That’s a victory that won’t show up on any scoreboard.