As you approach Foxborough, it quickly becomes clear you are arriving somewhere special. The Gillette Stadium has to be one of the most spectacular sporting venues on the planet.
With a bit of downtime before the madness resumes, I headed out on Tuesday evening to see what all the fuss was about. Norway were taking on Iraq, and there were wonderful scenes in Boston city centre before kick-off as the two sets of supporters - alongside plenty of Scots - mingled, posed for photographs and soaked up the atmosphere before making the journey to Foxborough.
Location and Logistics
The first thing to mention is that, despite being billed as "Boston Stadium" for the tournament, the 65,878-seat arena is nowhere near the city centre. That has been well documented, but - just like our match against Morocco on Friday - the 6pm local-time kick-off coincided with rush hour, and the bus journey from my hotel took more than two hours.
Home of the New England Patriots, the stadium sits 22 miles south-west of downtown Boston and 18 miles north-east of Providence, Rhode Island. With plenty of time on my hands during the journey, I decided to find out why such a world-class venue is located in a town with a population of fewer than 20,000 people.
It turns out the answer dates back to 1970. After years of struggling to secure a permanent home closer to Boston, Patriots owner Billy Sullivan accepted a donation of land from the owners of Bay State Raceway. The move allowed the franchise to build a stadium quickly and relatively cheaply.
The Stadium Experience
As you approach Foxborough, it quickly becomes clear you are arriving somewhere special. Despite its location in a small town, there are plenty of bars, restaurants and shops surrounding the complex. Stepping off the bus, it is impossible not to be impressed by the scale of the venue and its striking architecture.
Dozens of staff and volunteers were on hand directing supporters towards their seats - and once inside, visitors are greeted by a spectacular open-air, three-tier horseshoe design that provides excellent views of the pitch from every angle. The facilities are extensive too, although the prices are enough to make your eyes water - with a single pint of beer costing $20.
Atmosphere and Highlights
Seated in the West Stand, I found myself surrounded by passionate Norway supporters. Like Scotland, the Scandinavians were celebrating their first appearance at the World Cup in 28 years, and when Erling Haaland fired them into an early lead, one jubilant fan bouncing up and down nearby shouted: "I can't believe I've seen us score at a World Cup."
The match was close to a sell-out and - despite not being the most exciting fixture - it produced one of the best atmospheres I have ever experienced. One of the loudest roars of the evening came in the 39th minute when Aymen Hussein equalised for Iraq. Thousands of Iraqi supporters erupted in celebration as what was already proving to be an entertaining contest burst into life.
Another memorable moment came from a group of boisterous Norway fans to my right performing their famous "Viking Row". The synchronised chant mimics the rowing motion of a traditional Viking longship and has become one of the country's most recognisable supporter traditions. Earlier in the day, members of the Tartan Army had happily joined in.
Norway eventually ran out 4-1 winners, sending their travelling support home delighted.
Transport Woes
Unfortunately, though, much like our supporters experienced after the win over Haiti, the celebrations were quickly dampened by the transport situation. Huge queues formed for trains back to Boston. Just like Scotland fans on Saturday night, many waited hours to board - a frustrating end to what should have been a memorable evening.
It remains the tournament's biggest logistical headache and one that organisers will hope to address before Scotland's crucial clash with Morocco on Friday. Whether they succeed or not remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain. Transport frustrations aside, anyone fortunate enough to watch a World Cup match at Gillette Stadium is witnessing football on one of the grandest stages the sport has to offer. For the Tartan Army, that is an experience worth savouring.
