In Boston, a city historically significant for its battles against the English, the Tartan Army has found a vibrant base for their World Cup adventure. On Thursday afternoon, the downtown taproom, dedicated to Sam Adams beer, buzzed with excitement as Scotland fans gathered, proudly displaying a large yellow banner that read, “Remember Bannockburn 1315”
Choosing Boston as their rallying point is fitting, given its legacy of rebellion. Fans dressed as William Wallace mingled with tour guides portraying Paul Revere, while others sported “There are very few things in life left that you can genuinely describe as once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, but getting to see Scotland at a World Cup is one of them,” shirts, cleverly referencing Tennent’s beer. Near the historic site of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Scottish Football Association transformed a local pub into Scotland House, even securing sponsorship from M&S Food.
The venue, accommodating 2,000 people, is set to be packed on Saturday evening, filled with fans who have traveled across the Atlantic but lack tickets for the match against Haiti. Many local bars are already bustling with patrons, and reports indicate flights from Scotland have been fully booked throughout the week. Estimates suggest that up to 40,000 Scots could descend upon New England for the tournament.
Gordon Sheach expressed the sentiment shared among many fans, stating, “I’m old enough to remember 1998. I was nine years old and actually it was what made me a Scotland fan. I watched the tournament and I thought: ‘I can’t wait till the next one.’ I didn’t think it would take the entirety of my teenage years, my 20s, and almost my 30s to come back. So now that it’s here, we’re fully committed to having the absolute time of our lives.”
Sheach manages the Tartan Scarf social media account, which has evolved into a rich repository of clips and commentary reflecting Scotland’s return to international football. After participating in Euro 2020 and the tournament in Germany two years prior, this marks Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, with hopes high for a successful outcome. “As much as being part of the Tartan Army is about having a great time – you travel, you drink, you have a wonderful experience – I’d still quite like us to be successful on the pitch as well,” Sheach added. “And I think for this team under Steve Clarke, that’s what they deserve. The last two Euros, where we’ve been great in qualifying, we haven’t done ourselves justice at the tournament. Now is the time to do that.”
Another dedicated fan, Alan Risk, who contributes to the Hampden Roar podcast, sees Scotland’s journey under Clarke as one of resilience, creating a squad that fans can truly connect with. “What we’ve got is a squad that has rebounded numerous times from disappointment,” he noted. The narratives of players like Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay resonate deeply, reflecting their struggles and triumphs. “As a fanbase, we’ve done the exact same thing.”
Scotland’s World Cup history is marked by near misses and disappointments, from being eliminated in 1974 without a loss to the infamous campaign of 1978 and other letdowns in subsequent tournaments. However, both Sheach and Risk remain optimistic about the upcoming match. “There are so many players you can feel attached to. At one end you’ve got the bold personality of John McGinn but at the other there’s Aaron Hickey, someone who has had his setbacks but subtly gone about his work. I think quieter fans identify with his subtle professionalism.” Risk anticipates. “I think Haiti will come out of the traps very fast,”
The Group C match will take place at the FIFA-renamed Boston Stadium, which is actually located 22 miles away in Foxborough. The journey to the venue promises to be another adventure, with reports of numerous school buses arranged to transport Scotland fans. Sheach and Risk plan to board the first train, paying $80 (£60) for a round trip, aiming to arrive roughly three hours before kickoff to mingle with Haitian supporters. “They’ve got a lot of speed and I think they’ll have to start the game rapid. But I think if we can get control of it fairly quickly, we can take control of the game.” Sheach remarked. “This is just as big a moment for them as it is for us, if not more so,”
