Scotland's most remote village, Inverie, has been given a World Cup fan zone for the team's opening match against Haiti, thanks to Specsavers, the official eye and ear care partner of the Scottish Football Association.
The village, located on the Knoydart Peninsula in the West Highlands, is only accessible by boat or an 18-hour hike over mountains. Despite its isolation, the 100 residents will now be able to watch the match on a 100-inch screen in the village hall, which has been transformed into a fan zone.
This is not the first time Inverie has gone to great lengths to watch Scotland play. In 1978, 15 villagers dug a four-mile trench to lay a cable for a television signal to watch the World Cup in Argentina. John Murdo Morrison, then 18, was one of those villagers. Now 66, he will watch the match in the fan zone, calling it a "full circle moment."
The fan zone includes a full production setup, complementary food and drink, and live music. Laura Baird, Specsavers' Scottish divisional chair, said: "It was inspiring to hear the story of John and the 15 villagers of Inverie from the 1978 World Cup. The lengths Scottish people are willing to go to watch our national team never ceases to amaze me."
