América y los Americanos

America is a continent, not a nation.

A continent? Or three continents? North America, Central America, and South America?

Americans are the inhabitants of that continent, not a nationality.

A relative worked for Canadian immigration. They talked about people driving into Canada and, when asked for their citizenship, they would say “Alabama”, or “Georgia”, or “Tennessee” or some other “Dixie” state. That was not acceptable to Canadian immigration, but the immigration officers were not permitted to give the correct answer which was “American”.

You've only to check your U.S. passport to see those facts in plain English. The rest of America except for the USA and Canada agrees that we are all Americans from Tierra del Fuego to the Northern Territories and Greenland.

Wouldn’t the terms for agreement be “North Americans”, Central Americans”, and “South Americans”?

As an aside, I have had friends and coworkers from Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Costa Rica. None of them would accept being called “American”. I don’t think that any of my Mexican friends or acquaintances would want me to call them American”.

None of my Canadian friends or relatives would accept being called American. They would vociferously reject that description while agreeing that they are “North American”.

Exactly. This stupid argument just won't die, will it? If a traveler from Paraguay goes to Europe, or anywhere else in the world, including the entire continent of South America, and insists to the authorities that he is "American", he'll be arrested for personation....and stupidity.

He would never claim to be an American as his nationality, we're actually not stupid south of the Río Bravo. But if he were to go to Europe and watch a fútbol match between Canada and Spain, he would likely root for the American team, as most of us do who are from this marvelous land called America. No nation of Europe, Africa or Asia would be so arrogant as to claim they are the only Europeans, Africans or Asians. It's time to stop living a lie, especially considering that the USA has now submitted to Russia like a little lap dog seeking Putin's approval, as actions of the past week confirmed and last night's spectacle in the U.S. Capitol so clearly underscored.

And if he told his seatmates at that futbol match between Canada and Spain that he was "rooting for the American team" they'd think he was an idiot.
And so would I.

The only person who'd be thought an idiot in that situation would unfortunately be you. I speak from the voice of experience. Except for arrogant Gringos and confused Canadians, Americans root for Americans. It has always been thus since the days of El Libertador. If you were able to simply hang out with anyone south of the Río Bravo in THEIR world, not your Anglo-extranjero bubble, this would be one of those things that are understood among all, taken as a given. Not sure why this is so difficult for you to accept. It's like you're clinging to a belief in Santa Claus. ¿Prefieres averiguarlo en la vida real? ¡Vamos! Hay mucho fútbol hoy en la noche. Vamos a unos bares, tú y yo. Rápidamente verás quién tiene la razón, sobre todo entre los equipos nacionales, pero también con los equipos de la CONCACAF. Nadie va a estar abucheando los equipos americanos. Hasta tenemos un equipo "América" que no tiene absolutamente NADA que ver con los gringos.

https://youtu.be/0ue-YP-wvsY