FRISCO, Texas — Japanese and Swedish fans have poured into North Texas ahead of their teams’ matchup against one another at Dallas Stadium on Thursday.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.
But before the match, many international fans visiting Texas for the FIFA World Cup have been enjoying all that the Lone Star State has to offer. Many fans have taken to social media to post their experiences with Texas barbecue, the heat and cowboy culture.
Two fans straight from Japan — Takeshi Harada and Chiho Mitsuyuki — have been enjoying the Lone Star State over the past two weeks. It is their first time in Texas.
They wanted to speak Japanese for this interview, but their English and their views about Texans were already spot on.
“People are very kind, people helped us, so we are very happy and so hospitality very good,” said Mitsuyuki.
That good old Southern hospitality is what Seiya Harada is also experiencing.
“Texas is good,” said Harada.
He just flew in from Japan this week, and his Airbnb host, Yuko Smith, translated for me and gave him the full Texas treatment.
“It’s sweating hot in Texas,” said Smith.
Even though she has called Frisco home for the past eight years, the heat never gets easier.
It was a no-brainer for her on which parts of the state she would showcase on her Texas tour for her guests.
“So, the whole plan was come here and also take him to the Cowboys and also the Hutchins barbecue,” said Smith.
Smith captured the life-changing moment when brisket meets man and how just about everything is deep-fried and laid to the side.
They also met their Swedish opponents for Thursday’s match, and it was all love as these new international visitors got a taste of Texas.
Once all the festive World Cup decor is taken down and they’re back in their home country, they’ll know they left their mark on this state and on each other.
Smith, Harada and Mitsuyuki all started off as strangers this week, but the World Cup in Texas brought them together.