Scotland's Tartan Army is departing Boston and heading south to Miami for the next stage of the World Cup. The team will face Brazil in their final group-stage match on Wednesday, June 24, in south Florida.
Despite a 1-0 defeat to Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Friday night, supporters remain hopeful that Scotland's tournament journey will extend beyond the group stages. Fans have been leaving Boston over the weekend to make their way to Miami for the crucial game.
Boston Welcomes Scottish Fans
During their time in Boston, the Tartan Army was warmly received by local residents, who were entertained by the fans' antics, including placing traffic cones on statues around the city—a nod to a Glaswegian tradition. The Boston Globe published an editorial thanking the fans for “the laughter, the bagpipes and the memories.”
The editorial stated: “You came for the World Cup, but you gave us something more. For a week you turned train stations into singalongs, Fenway into a football ground and an ordinary June into something we’ll be talking about for years.”
In return, the Tartan Army thanked the city and surrounding areas for their hospitality. In a social media post as they left, they said: “New England – it has been an absolute pleasure. Across Boston, Providence, Newport and many towns in between you’ve welcomed us with open arms and unbelievable hospitality, and we can’t thank you enough. As we begin our journeys to south Florida, we hope it’s not goodbye.”
Fans Reflect on Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
Scotland fans expressed their enjoyment of the time spent in Boston. Hailey Vallantine told WBZ News Boston: “It’s been amazing. The atmosphere has been incredible and everyone has been so lovely. It’s great to be part of the Tartan Army.”
Andy Glass added: “It’s been a dream. The plan now is to go to Miami and beat Brazil.” He continued: “It’s been 28 years since the last World Cup we were in, we don’t know when we’ll qualify again, so for people back home in Scotland it’s just been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The area saw celebrations after Scotland secured a win in their first World Cup finals game in 28 years, defeating Haiti. Fans are now making their way to Miami, where the Tartan Army has planned events including a Tartan Army March at Miami Beach on Tuesday, the day before the match against Brazil.
