Sometimes the Gold Coast comes to you. Photo: ABC News // YouTube
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is well underway. Amongst the usual competition and festivities is an additional layer of drama: unprepared American cities being invaded by hard-partying international soccer fans. The results have been hilarious. Boston was drunk dry by Scots, Argentinians have bonded with Kansans over a shared love of beef, and Austrians have taken over San Francisco. And most recently, the celebrations of Australian supporters in Seattle have taken on a surfing theme.
The moment took place outside Seattle Stadium (the temporary rebrand for Lumen Field during the games). There, a horde of wasted Aussies carried aloft a supporter on a makeshift surfboard as he pantomimed paddling. Later on, another fan stood on the platform and drank a shoey – the proudly disgusting Southern Hemisphere tradition of chugging a beer out of a freshly doffed piece of footwear.
Hopefully that trend doesn’t make its way back to the lineup any time soon.
