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World Cup Underway in United States and the Winner is Freddy

A USA fan holds a sign as she arrives at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between USA and Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP
A USA fan holds a sign as she arrives at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between USA and Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP
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World Cup Underway in United States and the Winner is Freddy

A USA fan holds a sign as she arrives at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between USA and Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP
A USA fan holds a sign as she arrives at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between USA and Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP

The World Cup is officially underway in the United States and the biggest breakout star is...Freddy.

The young German fan, roadtripping with two pals from Atlanta to Houston to watch his team play, has captured the adoration of many Americans -- and even the White House -- with his posts on X gushing over mainstays of the US heartland.

"This is the most 'The European mind can't comprehend this' moment of my life. One of my friends said, 'Punch me five times tomorrow and I'll still think this isn't real," he said of taking in an Argentina-Iceland friendly at the 88,000-seat stadium on the campus of Alabama's Auburn University.

His videos showed fireworks exploding above the scoreboards, and the school's live "War Eagle" mascot swooping over the field.

Other updates from @FreddyLA7 showcased his newfound love of 24-hour diner Waffle House, country star Ella Langley, Alabama sunsets and gas station Buc-ees with its 100 pumps and extensive gift shop.

A White House account shared Freddy's post about a "surreal" outdoor goods store with a shooting range, declaring: "WELCOME TO AMERICA!"

Americans have responded to the unfolding travelogue with enthusiasm, sharing words of welcome, offers to help fund the trio's journey, and plenty of suggestions of places to eat along the way.

"This is the real America right here. Have fun boys," one user wrote.

"I think Freddy has earned a green card by now," said another, tagging Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"I got you covered in Houston big dog," offered JJ Watt, retired star of the NFL's Texans.

- Chicken fried steak -

The lovefest comes as the United States navigates stark political divisions under President Donald Trump, with ordinary Americans stinging from inflation, high gas prices and a deeply unpopular war in Iran.

"We want to show visitors that we are more than the scary headlines they read in their newspapers. We want to introduce them to the uniquely American things we enjoy because we hope they'll enjoy them, too," Yahoo Sports' Dan Wolken wrote on Thursday.

"That's just how we are, and this World Cup can be a turning point not only in how others view us, but how we view ourselves."

Other social media posts from World Cup visitors include a Scotsman praising chicken fried steak ("You'll realize we and the Americans are kindred spirits"), a Japanese fan delighting in bottomless chips and salsa, and a English tourist happy in a Florida summer rainstorm.

"It's raining! But it's hot! And I love it!" he said.

Even Spanish phenom Lamine Yamal got a taste of America's particular charms, posting a photo of himself pushing a full shopping cart outside a Walmart.

An online video showed the 18-year-old walking in the store, apparently with no one there knowing who he was.

On Friday, the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans answered a question that had been on many minds: was Freddy actually real and not an AI creation?

"We can confirm Freddy is real, is German and loves New Orleans," the team said on X, after treating the popular visitor and his friends to a tour of their facilities.

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Varieties

Charles Hosted Prince Harry and Family for First Time in Years as They Try to Repair a Family Rift

Britain's Prince Harry speaks at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the primary venue for the 2027 Invictus Games, as it marks one year until the event, in Marston Green, near Birmingham, Britain, July 10, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool via Reuters)
Britain's Prince Harry speaks at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the primary venue for the 2027 Invictus Games, as it marks one year until the event, in Marston Green, near Birmingham, Britain, July 10, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool via Reuters)
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Charles Hosted Prince Harry and Family for First Time in Years as They Try to Repair a Family Rift

Britain's Prince Harry speaks at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the primary venue for the 2027 Invictus Games, as it marks one year until the event, in Marston Green, near Birmingham, Britain, July 10, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool via Reuters)
Britain's Prince Harry speaks at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the primary venue for the 2027 Invictus Games, as it marks one year until the event, in Marston Green, near Birmingham, Britain, July 10, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool via Reuters)

King Charles III hosted Prince Harry and met with his family for the first time in years Friday as they try to repair a rift that has persisted since his youngest son and wife quit royal life and moved to America six years ago.

Harry, Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, met with the king and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, a country estate west of London, Buckingham Palace confirmed.

The Duke of Sussex had arrived Monday in his homeland for a number of charity events that were overshadowed by speculation of whether he would meet with his father.

British tabloids and news broadcasts were filled with speculation about whether Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, would accompany him and, more importantly, whether they would bring their two children so they can finally get to know Grandpa Charles.

However, the monarch’s schedule is often years in the making, with events penciled in long before they take place. An opportunity to hold such a meeting would have been fleeting, particularly because the children would need to return to school in the fall and because they live in California.

The wish to seize the moment fueled tensions between Harry and royal officials earlier this week. That was highlighted by embarrassing scenes when royal officials first invited Harry to stay at Buckingham Palace, then rescinded the offer after the prince didn’t accept it in a timely manner.

Harry’s visit also coincided with him losing his final lawsuit in his quest to tame the British tabloids. A judge ruled that he failed to prove his privacy invasion claims against the publisher of the Daily Mail.

His legal battles have been a source of friction with his family, however. Harry has said he wants to reconcile with his 77-year-old father, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Harry and Charles met briefly for a cup of tea in September during a short visit in London, the first time they’d seen each other in well over a year.

But the prince has also wanted his children to see the monarch, whom they first met during celebrations for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The royal children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, are now old enough to remember meeting their grandfather, and will certainly hope for pictures with the king, though the event was deemed private and no images will be publicly released.

Tensions within the House of Windsor have heightened ever since Harry and Meghan gave up their royal duties and moved to California to pursue lucrative media deals, free from the pressures of royal life in London.

They reached a new low after Harry published an explosive memoir that included unflattering depictions of the royal family and damning allegations of a toxic relationship between the monarchy and the press.

Harry’s description of royals leaking information about other family members in exchange for positive coverage of themselves is just one of the tawdry allegations in his book, “Spare.” The prince was especially scathing about Camilla, accusing her of feeding private conversations to the media as she sought to rehabilitate her image after her longtime affair with Charles when he was heir to the throne.

After losing a court battle over his security issue last year, Harry said he hoped to rebuild relations with his family, even as he suggested that the royals had sought to prevent him from receiving police protection to punish him for walking away from royal duties.

“I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore,” Harry told the BBC. “I don’t know how much longer my father has.”

The visit Friday is a step toward mending those fences.

Varieties

Japan Successfully Launches, Lands Reusable Rocket

The Reusable Vehicle eXperiment, known as RV-X, is seen in a test launch at the Noshiro Rocket Testing Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in Noshiro, northern Japan, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Naoki Kawano/Kyodo News via AP)
The Reusable Vehicle eXperiment, known as RV-X, is seen in a test launch at the Noshiro Rocket Testing Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in Noshiro, northern Japan, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Naoki Kawano/Kyodo News via AP)
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Japan Successfully Launches, Lands Reusable Rocket

The Reusable Vehicle eXperiment, known as RV-X, is seen in a test launch at the Noshiro Rocket Testing Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in Noshiro, northern Japan, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Naoki Kawano/Kyodo News via AP)
The Reusable Vehicle eXperiment, known as RV-X, is seen in a test launch at the Noshiro Rocket Testing Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in Noshiro, northern Japan, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Naoki Kawano/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's space agency said on Saturday its prototype reusable rocket successfully completed the first lift-off and landing test, marking a step forward in the cost-cutting technology dominated by SpaceX.

The prototype, launched from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s test site in Noshiro, Akita region, reached a height of about 10 meters (33 feet), and then landed.

The flight lasted about 40 seconds, according to JAXA.

"I feel we have put a great deal of time and effort into this, and now that the prototype has taken off and landed without problem, I must say I feel a great sense of relief," JAXA's Takashi Ito, who led the launch, told reporters.

Ito said the agency will review data to fully determine the success of the test, but he is "confident" that it "obtained very useful data."

Most rockets are designed for single use, with components falling into the sea, burning up in the atmosphere or remaining in orbit as debris. The first launch stage is considered the most expensive component.

But the deployment of partially reusable rockets would slash launch costs.

SpaceX has been operating its reusable Falcon 9 rocket since 2017.

China, however, achieved its first successful reusable rocket landing on Friday, a breakthrough that could challenge US dominance in the field.

In June last year, a subsidiary of Honda became the first Japanese company to successfully launch and land a reusable rocket.

Japan is racing to boost the international competitiveness of the country's rocket industry.

Its flagship H3 rocket was launched successfully in June, months after a previous mission to put a satellite into orbit ended in failure.

Varieties

Sea Snail Named Aldisa Vozinha in Honor of Cape Verde Keeper

FILE PHOTO: Cape Verde's Vozinha celebrates after the match in Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US, June 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Brett Davis/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Cape Verde's Vozinha celebrates after the match in Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US, June 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Brett Davis/File Photo
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Sea Snail Named Aldisa Vozinha in Honor of Cape Verde Keeper

FILE PHOTO: Cape Verde's Vozinha celebrates after the match in Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US, June 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Brett Davis/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Cape Verde's Vozinha celebrates after the match in Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US, June 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Brett Davis/File Photo

Spanish biologist and soccer fan Jesus Ortea has named a newly discovered species of sea snail in honor of Vozinha, the Cape Verde goalkeeper who stunned fans by denying all goal attempts by Spain in his World Cup debut.

Ortea discovered the tiny, bright red mollusc, now named Aldisa vozinha, in the Caribbean and timed his announcement to coincide with ⁠the World Cup.

"We ⁠have chosen the name vozinha in honor of Vozinha ... who played a prominent role in his country's World Cup debut against The Reds (Spain)," Ortea said in his paper.

"The coloration of ⁠the species is intended as a tribute to that achievement."

Vozinha, 40, became one of the breakout stars of the tournament, helping his country reach the Round of 32, where he again distinguished himself in a dramatic extra-time loss to world champions Argentina.

Ortea, professor emeritus at the University of Oviedo, has worked extensively ⁠in ⁠the waters around the Cape Verde archipelago and in 2023 was awarded a Medal of Merit by the island nation.

The 75-year-old biologist's passion for soccer has previously manifested itself in the naming of marine species after former Costa Rica and Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas and Quini, the Spain and Sporting Gijon striker of the 1970s and 1980s.