“It’s hot, too hot. Very, very hot,” remarks Clark from Dalkeith while standing on a sidewalk in Miami. “I want a wee Arctic blast for about half an hour to calm down.”
The scene unfolds outside the Auld Dubliner in downtown Miami, where a lively group of Scots has gathered to watch the England match, seemingly not out of schadenfreude initially. The atmosphere is cheerful, with locals joining in on the excitement, and the crowd shows no signs of fatigue from drinking.
“Everybody loves the Scots,” chimes in Graeme, a friend of Clark from Perth, who believes that many local women have been charmed by his accent since his arrival. “You know our reputation is global. It’s well deserved. We’re good guys.” He adds quietly: “It’s just the English that people don’t like.”
Florida has become the new hub for the Tartan Army after they made a mass migration from Boston last weekend, gearing up for Wednesday’s crucial Group C showdown against Brazil. The Scots have drawn considerable attention from both the media and the public. Floridians are eager to embrace the Tartan Army, attempting to claim their share of the revelry, while Bostonians lament their departure, feeling that the incoming English fans lack the same spirit.
On Monday night, the Florida Marlins faced the Texas Rangers, transforming the game into a vibrant event for the Scots, who brought their signature energy and songs to LoanDepot Park, just as they had at Fenway Park ten days earlier. This time, however, the organizers ensured everyone was aware of the Scots’ presence, with cameras capturing the action in the stands, while locals flocked to document the festivities.
Scotsmaxxing has become a cultural phenomenon in America. Local officials welcomed the Tartan Army to Ocean Drive for a ceremonial march along the boardwalk. Bars, eager to attract these traveling patrons, have been displaying signs proclaiming “I like Boston better because everything was closer,” referencing the lore of the Tartan Army drinking Boston dry. Yet, there are mixed feelings, as someone has even taken to remixing “The beach is great but it’s quite far away. The people are just as nice as in Boston but they’re all from Colombia and Argentina and they’re difficult to understand.” in the style of Pitbull.
This Miami experience markedly differs from Boston, not just due to the warmer climate. Chris from Glasgow, enjoying a drink outside the Auld Dubliner, expressed his nostalgia for New England. “My heart says 1-0 Scotland, my head says 1-1,” he explains. “I think Brazil will win, but I’m very hopeful that Scotland will still qualify. If we keep it to a 1-0 defeat, we’ll go through.”
With just about 24 hours left before the match, plans were underway to return to see the Marlins, where a connection had developed with the team’s fiery pitcher Tyler Philips. On Monday night, he mentioned feeling the crowd’s energy “in my chest.” Meanwhile, bars are expected to be overflowing, with two-hour waits to access the fanzone as everyone seeks to join in the tartan festivities.
Additionally, the presence of the Seleção adds another layer of excitement. Clark mentioned that any Brazilians he has encountered have been “great craic,” although others noted they had only seen the rival fans at their hotel. Anticipation is building for an impressive gathering of fans before the match, with videos likely to surface soon after.
As for the match and Scotland’s chances of advancing beyond the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history, the confidence among the traveling supporters remains unshaken. “My heart says 1-0 Scotland, my head says 1-1,” Graeme predicts, either of which would suffice for progression. Meanwhile, Clark opines: “I think Brazil will win, but I’m very hopeful that Scotland will still qualify. If we keep it to a 1-0 defeat, we’ll go through.”
With that, it was time to head back to the bar, where the match was resuming, and someone had just placed a traffic cone amid a pile of empty glasses.
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