Pat McAfee delights in Europeans ‘falling in love’ as viral World Cup fan gets all expenses paid Las Vegas offer

Jun 16, 2026 - 19:15
Pat McAfee delights in Europeans ‘falling in love’ as viral World Cup fan gets all expenses paid Las Vegas offer

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane are the names set to dominate on the pitch at the World Cup, but one unlikely hero is already dominating the discussion on social media.

Enter Freddy, the German soccer fan who has gone viral for his hot takes as he travels across the United States for this summer’s tournament.

The supporters of Germany during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Germany and Curacao at Houston Stadium on June 14, 2026 in Houston, United States
One Germany fan has gone viral for his trip across the US for the World Cup
Getty

The Internet sensation, who goes by @FreddyLA7 on X, arrived in Atlanta, Georgia and has since passed through Tennessee, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana, en-route to his nation’s opening game against Curacao in Houston, Texas.

Throughout his trip so far, he’s built an impressive following of more than 633,000, as he travels around the US taking in cultural highlights from Bourbon Street to Buc-ee’s, and everything in between.

Upon arriving in Houston over the weekend, Freddy found he had a friend in NFL legend J.J. Watt, who knows the area very well from his time with the Texans.

Watt booked the fan and his party into a room at the Post Oak Hotel, one of the most luxurious stays in the city, and even treated them to bagels and schmears before Sunday’s game.

Freddy & Co. then went to Houston Stadium to watch Germany dismantle Curacao 7-1, and if that wasn’t exciting enough, their US road trip could be about to hit another level.

Viral soccer fan lands ‘all expenses paid’ offer

American businessman Derek Stevens, who owns several hotel-casinos in downtown Las Vegas, has made the fan a rather enticing offer.

The Circa Resort & Casino sits in Stevens’ portfolio, and features a rooftop pool area known as Stadium Swim.

There, visitors can splash around in any of six pools, and watch sports action unfold on a 143ft screen in the Nevada sunshine.

Stadium Swim also boasts a DJ booth and two swim-up bars, to make it a hot Sin City ticket.

Freddy and his friends could soon be on their way, with a personal invitation from Stevens.

People swim at the Circa hotel-casino's Stadium Swim pool during an excessive heat warning, June 16, 2021
Freddy has been invited on a trip to Stadium Swim in Las Vegas
AFP
The Circa Casino & Hotel, located at the Fremont Experience in downtown, is viewed on August 13, 2023
Circa owner Stevens will fly Freddy and his friends to Vegas on a private jet
Getty

“No trip to the States is legit w/out a trip to Las Vegas. Hey @FreddyLA7 how does this sound?

“I’ll send the Circa Las Vegas jet to pick you & friends up in OKC to attend our USMNT Watch Party at Stadium Swim.”

A private jet from Oklahoma City to Vegas for a rooftop pool watch party? That sounds simply too good to turn down.

Per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Stevens said he hadn’t heard back from Freddy as of 6pm Monday, but was stunned at the response to his post, which has already been seen 2.1 million times.

“I can’t believe this. This thing went crazy. This Freddy guy, the whole world wants to know about him,” he told the outlet.

“This is definitely my biggest, craziest tweet ever… the amount of texts and DMs I got is ridiculous.

CEO of Circa Sports Derek Stevens attends the grand opening of Derek Stevens' Circa Sports Sportsbook At Tuscany Suites & Casino
Stevens’ generous offer has been seen by more than two million people on X
Getty

“If Freddy does reach out to me or my team, we will have a ball sending a limo to the private airport to bring him up. That would be a lot of fun.”

What are you waiting for, Freddy? Make the call!

While the viral German has captured hearts online, Pat McAfee is delighted to see that plenty more tourists are enjoying their time in the US — and also being blown away by the stadiums they visit.

Pat McAfee proud to see Europeans ‘falling in love’ with America

Speaking on his popular ESPN show this week, the former NFL punter turned sports media sensation discussed how the US is ‘crushing’ the World Cup so far in a true ‘celebration’ of culture.

Pat McAfee poses for a photo before the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026
McAfee is delighted to see Europeans embracing American culture
Getty

“I do love the thought of a German coming over to America, experiencing America that isn’t New York City, Las Vegas, or Los Angeles,” McAfee said.

“Elsa is (another) lady from Sweden, I do believe. Her team is in Indiana. She’s been touring around Indiana and experiencing life out here.

“Obviously, if you’re from another country and you’re coming to visit America once or twice in your life, we don’t think Indiana, let alone Anderson, Indiana is going to be a place you’re going to stop at.

“They’ve come over to see where their teams are, learn a little bit about it, hang out around it, and then obviously they will go to the other cities that are hosting these games.

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“It feels like America’s killing it. I’m being honest. It feels like America is crushing it thus far.

“They’re falling in love.”

Fans from around the world are immersing themselves in the culture of a soccer tournament on American soil, and if the invites keep flowing, those like Freddy will have an unforgettable summer.

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