Forget the goals, these are the food winning the FIFA World Cup

For many football fans, travelling for the FIFA World Cup is about much more than watching matches. It's about soaking up the atmosphere, meeting supporters from around the world and, of course, eating everything the host country has to offer.

Every tournament creates unforgettable sporting moments, but it also leaves behind another kind of memory: the meals people can't stop talking about long after the final whistle.

From smoky Texas barbecue and towering burgers to Canada's famous poutine, this year's World Cup has shown that food can be just as exciting as football.

Every match comes with a food adventure

One of the best parts of travelling is trying dishes you can't easily find back home.

Many football fans build their itineraries around local restaurants as much as stadiums. Instead of sticking to familiar meals, they're hunting down iconic regional foods and famous restaurant chains to see what all the fuss is about.

For visitors, eating becomes part of the match-day experience.

It's not unusual to spend the morning at a café, the afternoon exploring local food markets and the evening cheering from the stands before ending the day with a late-night meal.

Big portions, bigger reactions

One thing many overseas visitors notice almost immediately is the size of the portions.

Fans from Europe have joked that meals are much larger than what they're used to. Whether it's burgers stacked high, overflowing plates of barbecue or giant soft drinks, the generous servings often become part of the travel story.

Many visitors admit they know the food isn't always the healthiest choice, but that's not stopping them from enjoying every bite.

"It’s greasy, it’s disgusting, but it’s absolutely glorious," Jack Goodwin, a football 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.”

After all, holidays rarely come with calorie counting.

The chains everyone wants to try

Sometimes it's not fancy restaurants that attract travellers. Instead, it's the famous fast-food chains they've only seen online or heard about from friends.

Visitors have been making special trips to places like Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out Burger, Whataburger and even Buc-ee's, the enormous roadside convenience store that has become a tourist attraction in its own right.

For many international fans, these stops are just as much a part of the holiday as visiting famous landmarks.

Simple details often leave the biggest impression too, from discovering a favourite dipping sauce to being surprised by the value for money.

Harrison Murphy, who was traveling from London with his brother for the knockout rounds, had breakfast at a Chick-fil-a in Atlanta.

“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.”

Texas barbecue is winning hearts

If there's one food that seems to have become a favourite among travelling football fans, it's Texas barbecue.

Slow-cooked brisket, smoked sausages, pulled pork and tender ribs have become must-try dishes for visitors exploring cities such as Dallas and Fort Worth.

Barbecue restaurants have reported welcoming fans from every corner of the world, many of whom happily queue for hours just to experience authentic smoked meat.

For some, it has become the highlight of their culinary trip.

Canada's comfort food gets new fans

Not every memorable meal comes from a barbecue pit. Many visitors arriving in Canada are discovering poutine for the first time.

The comforting combination of crispy chips, cheese curds and rich gravy has earned plenty of praise from travellers who had never even heard of the dish before landing in the country.

“It was like chips with gravy, cheese. But it was a really thick gravy. Different from back home. Vinegar, there was lots of vinegar through it,” said Gary Bishop, who was sporting a Scotland jersey on a recent stroll through Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival. 

It's simple, filling and exactly the kind of meal many people crave after spending hours exploring a city or standing in a football crowd.

Even football stars are joining the food trail

It's not only travelling supporters who are sampling local favourites. Players have also been spotted visiting famous eateries during the tournament.

Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland, for example, shared a photo outside the legendary Katz's Delicatessen in New York, a place known for its iconic sandwiches.

It shows that exploring local food has become part of the World Cup experience for everyone, not just the fans.

Restaurants are enjoying the football fever too

The tournament has brought a welcome boost to restaurants across host cities.

From family-run sandwich shops and Cuban cafés to taco trucks and barbecue restaurants, businesses have welcomed football supporters eager to taste something local.

Many owners say food naturally starts conversations. Visitors often ask staff for recommendations, chat with other diners and take photos to remember the experience.

It’s a thrill for restaurant owners, from Cuban spots in Miami to barbecue joints in Kansas City and taco trucks in Mexico City.

“I have not seen anything like this ever in my life,” said Paul Barker, the principal and founder of Pauli’s, a Boston restaurant known for generously filled sandwiches and comfort foods. Fans from Scotland, Brazil, England and elsewhere have lined up for his famous lobster rolls and taken photos with staff members, Barker said.

“Food becomes a natural conversation starter,” he said. “It’s just been incredible for us to be part of this.”

Waffle House, the all-day breakfast chain with 2,000 restaurants across the South, opened a pop-up shop in downtown Atlanta to sell branded soccer balls, jerseys and patriotic gear. In a statement, the chain said it was “honored by the enthusiasm and curiosity" shown by visiting fans.

For other restaurants, World Cup fever has been a delightful surprise. Whataburger, a Texas-based chain with 1,100 locations, found itself in the spotlight after fans from Japan and elsewhere posted on social media about their visits.

For restaurants, the World Cup has become a chance to introduce local flavours to an international audience.

Not every bite gets five stars

Of course, no food journey is perfect. Some fans have felt that meals inside stadiums are expensive, while others have been less impressed by certain drinks or snacks they tried during their travels.

But those experiences have largely been the exception rather than the rule.

Overall, visitors have been enthusiastic about discovering new flavours and sharing their finds on social media.

Even something as simple as ranch dressing became an unexpected talking point, with so many tourists buying bottles to take home that airport authorities jokingly reminded travellers to pack them in checked luggage.

Football brings people together. food keeps the conversation going.

Ask someone about their favourite World Cup memory, and they'll probably mention a dramatic goal or an unforgettable match.

Ask them a little later, and they might start talking about the incredible barbecue they found in Texas, the first bite of poutine in Toronto or the chicken sandwich they still can't stop thinking about. 

The football may bring people to a destination, but it's often the local food that gives them another reason to come back.