People assume nYOO overlooks the burger. They are wrong. He has strong feelings about burgers — not despite their simplicity but because of it. A great burger is a study in architecture. Bun-to-patty ratio, fat content, structural integrity under condiment weight. He was still working through this when Australia’s roast lamb came up. Then Turkey’s white bean stew. Then Paraguay’s corn bread, which is definitively not soup and he will not hear otherwise.
Group D gave nYOO a great deal to think about, and almost none of it involved football.
| Country | National Dish | Traditional (approx.) | nYOO’s Version (approx.) | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Burger | ~650 kcal | ~400 kcal | ~250 kcal |
| Paraguay | Sopa Paraguaya | ~380 kcal | ~280 kcal | ~100 kcal |
| Australia | Roast Lamb | ~520 kcal | ~340 kcal | ~180 kcal |
| Türkiye | Kuru Fasulye | ~380 kcal | ~280 kcal | ~100 kcal |
🇺🇸 USA
nYOO picks: The Burger
A host nation pick, and nYOO is not going to pretend otherwise. The burger is America to the world — simple, bold, endlessly adaptable, and eaten everywhere. He respects that clarity of identity.
Healthier: Lean beef or turkey patty (90% lean minimum), a wholegrain bun, and bake or air-fry the fries. Load up on lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles — they add crunch and freshness for essentially zero calories. The flavour lives in the seasoning and the char, not in the fat content.
🇵🇾 Paraguay
nYOO picks: Sopa Paraguaya
Not soup — despite the name, this is a dense, savoury corn bread made with cheese, onion, and egg. One of South America’s most underrated dishes, and nYOO thinks it deserves a great deal more international attention than it currently receives.
Healthier: Reduce the oil and cheese slightly and increase the diced vegetables in the batter for added fibre and bulk. Bake in a thinner layer so portions stay sensible. A smaller slice alongside a big green salad is nYOO’s version of this — you still get the savoury, cheesy satisfaction without the whole slab.
🇦🇺 Australia
nYOO picks: Roast Lamb
A leg of lamb with rosemary, garlic, and a table full of roasted vegetables — the Sunday roast with an Australian soul. Simple, generous, deeply satisfying, and the kind of dish that brings an entire family to the table.
Healthier: Choose leg over shoulder (a meaningfully leaner cut), rub with herbs and a modest amount of olive oil rather than butter, and make the roasted vegetables — pumpkin, sweet potato, green beans — the dominant component on the plate. The lamb earns its portion through quality. Let the vegetables take the volume.
🇹🇷 Türkiye
nYOO picks: Kuru Fasulye
White beans slow-cooked in a rich tomato and lamb broth — Turkey’s true national comfort food, eaten from Istanbul to Ankara every single day of the week. Unpretentious, deeply flavoured, and completely satisfying.
Healthier: Beans are already a protein and fibre powerhouse — this dish is doing a lot right. Reduce the lamb content and increase the bean-to-meat ratio so the legumes take centre stage. Serve with bulgur wheat instead of white bread. A genuinely nutritious dish that needs remarkably little adjustment to become even better.
Want all 48 nations in one place? Read the complete nYOO World Cup national dish guide.
Calorie figures are approximate, based on a typical restaurant/home serving. Individual recipes vary. Nutritional guidance is for general informational purposes. Consult your healthcare team for personalised advice.