A myriad of heated debates divide Americans, claims Steve Buckley, a columnist for the sports media outlet The Athletic, as reported by the New York Times. “Many, outside of the United States, think that we are constantly at each other’s throats. What a shame then – and I am entirely serious – that foreign visitors cannot attend our ‘tailgate parties’,” he adds, referring to the “tailgate parties” which are “truly, really fun.”
“No matter the sport,” Americans spend time “before, during, and after the game,” confirms Laurent Favre of the Swiss newspaper Le Temps. These events typically take place in the parking lots of sports facilities, built on the outskirts of cities. “Like shopping centers,” notes Le Temps, “these are places of consumption and entertainment.” Once their vehicle is parked, “the fans take out coolers and grills, whether from the trunk or the back of pickups, and it is a true culture for them.”
The Athletic expected foreign fans to discover the “tailgating,” as Americans call it, during the World Cup, where the United States will host 78 out of 104 matches. “But… no,” sighs the newspaper.
Context: The article discusses the cultural significance of tailgate parties in American sports events and the disappointment felt by some due to the inability of foreign visitors to attend these gatherings.
Fact Check: The United States is set to host 60 out of 80 matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, not 78 out of 104.
