I have been able to make long-lasting friend across multiple countries. Since I was a kid to being a young adult and even now as a full-blown adult. The method is simple. Through shared interests more on the hobby side you will meet people. Some of these people are looking for friendships and some are not. Some are good and some are bad. Some will be aligned with you and others not so much. Once you talk to someone and connect with them. Don't be afraid to do it again... That fear is why a lot of ppl are lonely despite the barrier being a simple text in our day and age. The worst that could happen is you message someone and feel them be annoyed... If that happens it will sting a bit through no fault of anyone. Some ppl simply are not available as friends I mentioned the potential reasons above... BUT for a SURPRISING AMOUNT! That test is the exact connection they were waiting for but were too afraid to pull the trigger... They are people who gave up or are in the process of giving up. That message you decide to send after you got their socials or number in that one convention, game, concert etc... Would brighten their day. After that if the friendship would grow or stagnate, but NOW you have a bit more experience and confidence and that fear is a suddenly a lot smaller...

To clarify I am not some social extroverted guru or something...The opposite, actually I am extremely insecure. Due to having a horrible physical disability which constantly makes me not want to impose on ppl... Meaning I tend to questions if they feel like they have to fake interest in me and stuff like that. I spent a lot of time being too stupid and not seeing the obvious solution to this. If they ever reach out on their own just to hang out... Then see you as a true friend. Even if there is still doubt you can honestly talk about such doubts with them..... So i am not a social butterfly and i have an EXTREAMLY harsh filter for ppl. Yet i have applied what i described before to make friendships across continents and years...PPl from my hometown, from where i immigratd too and online from gaming... That last part is what helped me get over the insecurity actually XD I saw the surprise of one of long time online friends when she saw me IRL for the first time. (Not bad it was actually wholesome kind of surprise) But to her there was an image of me based on actions, text and voicechat! aka just personality THAT was what counts! SO if this way of making friends works for me there is a good chance it could help you too. Or maybe you can be inspired to figure out your own way and not give up as loniless is an weful thing i don't wish on anybody! ps: I have to mention that with guys specifically there is alot of external AND worse...internalized misandry that demonises them... Especially in the west which was surprising for me??? PPl who think it is "macho" to be stoic and loney are f*****g idiots. Those who think it is creepy to want friends as an adults are idiots too... The whole sentiment that it is "weak" and "pathetic" to not want to be loney is simply false... ALSO anyone who is irrationally scared of you for simply talking to them have their own issues they need to work on. Try to keep that in mind. Some ppl in certain soceites and cultures just never had a social net or were in a toxic one... Anyone who assumes you are bad by default because of that is a misandrist. Some women in the west obviously have to deal with this too but from my subjective experience i would say they have more nets and considerably less stigma with wanting to form a social circle... But women have to worry about other types of unfairness cus life is a b***h like that! Wish you best luck and as I said giving up is...Not something I recommend. Especially when it is a normal wholesome desire. I am in the "rage against the dying of light" type of person. You chances of getting what you want and the thing that makes you happy could be 0.00001% near zero but it only truly becomes zero if you give up!