People are still laughing – and cringing – at the portion-size culture shock that followed the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and one TikTok video is keeping the conversation alive. The clip from @pet.love.baby1, posted in June, has resurfaced, turning the post-tournament blues into a food reality check. It’s a 63-second highlight reel of people trying to order “normal” food outside the U.S. and getting humbled. The ice cream cone that sent one mom into a laughing fit is just the tip of the iceberg.
The video is a collage of relatable chaos, starting with a man holding up what’s supposed to be a “large” wing, only for it to look more like a snack. Then there’s the London Burger King moment, where a “large” drink cup is definitely a medium. But the real kicker is the ice cream cone. A woman, fully expecting a towering swirl of soft serve, instead gets something that looks like it belongs in a dollhouse. Her mom’s pure, unfiltered laughter is the kind of content that makes you snort your coffee.
The video taps into a bigger conversation about how wildly different food culture can be from one country to the next. During the World Cup, hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, international fans flooded social media with their reactions to American portions – massive, flavor-packed, and overwhelming. Free refills, ranch dressing overload, and fast food that somehow tastes like it was designed in a lab to hit every pleasure center in your brain.
It was a lot to take in
The TikTok video’s caption nails the vibe: “When Europeans get used to American food and go back home?.” The comments section is a goldmine of opinions, too. Some people are leaning into the humor, like the user who joked, “now i understand why M in clothes size in USA its entirely different from M in Europe.” Others are more serious, with one commenter writing, “and America wonders why they have an obesity problem ?.”
Then there’s the person who took a hard left into health food territory, saying, “I’m so grateful to have been born in Europe, where we enjoy natural food with no preservatives, non-GMO vegetables, fresh fish instead of fried, and lean meat. It’s truly amazing.” And of course, there’s always someone to point out the obvious: “Ok, hear me out… the rest of the world is not the problem.”
The video’s virality is about how the 2026 FIFA World Cup became a cultural exchange, not just a sporting event. For weeks, fans from all over the world were immersed in American food culture, and now they’re dealing with the aftermath. Some are missing the bold flavors and generous portions, while others are relieved to be back to what they consider “normal.”
If you’ve ever traveled outside the U.S., you’ve probably had your own moment of portion-size shock. Maybe it was the first time you ordered a “large” fries in Europe and got something that looked like a side dish. Or maybe it was the time you realized that a “medium” drink in the U.S. is basically a bucket compared to what you’d get elsewhere. It’s a universal experience, and that’s why videos like this one resonate so much.
The World Cup might have ended, but the food culture shock continues
The video is a reminder that no matter where you’re from, food is one of those things that can bring people together – or give them something to laugh about when they’re feeling homesick. During the tournament that ended on July 19, international fans didn’t just show up for football. They dove headfirst into American food culture, and the results were just as entertaining as the matches.
According to the BBC, Ayoub Baghdad, a fan from Morocco, summed it up perfectly when he said, “Everything is big, even the Coke is big.” He wasn’t just talking about the drinks, either. Roads, trucks, buildings – everything in the U.S. seemed supersized compared to what he was used to back home.
For many, the food was the main attraction. Ire Balogun, traveling from Oxford, said, “I find that the food generally is significantly better than in England.” He wasn’t just talking about sit-down restaurants, either. Even the fast food in the U.S. packed more flavor, whether it was Chinese takeout or Hispanic dishes. Of course, he acknowledged the trade-off – “I am sure it’s not good for you in many other ways” – but the taste was undeniable.
João Valentim and his group of Portuguese graduate students took a similar approach, hitting up chains like Chipotle and Shake Shack, as well as smaller, local spots. For them, it was all part of the experience. “It’s what we are used to seeing in movies or TV shows,” Lourenço Silva said. “It’s a part of the experience of coming to the U.S.”
People were surprised by the entire dining experience
Free chips and salsa at Hispanic restaurants, endless refills at nearly every eatery, and portion sizes that could feed a small army. Christian Boateng, a fan from Ghana living in England, was stunned by how much food came with a single order. “The portion we bought, we couldn’t finish everything,” he said. “It’s not like that in England.” He also pointed out that prices don’t include sales tax in the U.S. It’s a detail that can throw off visitors who aren’t used to doing the math at the register.
The food culture shock didn’t just go one way, either. While international fans were marveling at American portions, Americans traveling abroad were getting their own reality checks. The TikTok video from @pet.love.baby1 is proof of that. It’s a two-way street, and the humor comes from the fact that everyone thinks their way is the “normal” way – until they’re proven wrong.
(Featured images: @pet.love.baby1 on TikTok)
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Terrina Jairaj
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