Los Angeles Stadium (temporarily renamed from SoFi Stadium) ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Image: AFP
For European football fans visiting America for the first time, gob smacked would be a nice way of putting their feelings towards the stadium experience into perspective.
One football supporter has gone viral after sharing his amazement at what he encountered inside a World Cup venue in Dallas, admitting he had never experienced anything like it despite attending stadiums across Europe.
The fan, who goes by TravelTomTom on Instagram, explained that from the outside, the stadium looked like any ordinary football ground. But the moment he walked through the doors, everything changed.
Instead of narrow concourses and basic food kiosks, he described stepping into what felt more like a luxury shopping mall. Air conditioning, enormous open spaces, restaurants, retail stores and premium facilities left him stunned, comparing the experience to walking through an airport or major train station rather than a football stadium.
"As a European, I genuinely didn't expect this. I've visited stadiums all over Europe and around the world but this was completely different.
"The World Cup 2026 is introducing me to a whole new stadium experience and I can definitely see why people are so impressed with these American venues," he wrote.
His comments have sparked debate online, highlighting one of the biggest differences between American and European sporting venues.
Many of the United States' newer stadiums are designed as year-round entertainment destinations.
Built to host NFL games, concerts and other major events, they feature expansive concourses, climate-controlled interiors, luxury hospitality areas and an extensive range of dining and shopping options.
European football stadiums, meanwhile, have traditionally prioritised atmosphere over comfort. Many historic grounds were constructed decades ago, with fans seated much closer to the pitch, creating the intimidating environments that have become synonymous with football across the continent.
While Europe's modern arenas have adopted more premium features in recent years, the American approach remains distinct.
For TravelTomTom, the experience was enough to completely redefine what a football stadium could be.
"Dallas... you surprised me," he finished.
Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter for Independent Media and social media coordinator of the our YouTube channel The Clutch