Ranch dressing becomes unexpected ambassador at World Cup

As the World Cup brought the world to American stadiums this summer, something unexpected emerged alongside the athletic spectacle: international visitors discovered ranch dressing, and many found themselves reaching for it again. NPR's Scott Simon noticed this quiet phenomenon — a humble condiment, invisible to most Americans through sheer familiarity, suddenly registering as something distinctly new and memorable to guests from across the globe. It is a small moment, but it speaks to how culture travels not through grand design, but through the simple fact of being present when the world com