Sam Adams, a popular beer in Boston named after the fourth governor of Massachusetts and a founding father of the United States, is at the center of a lively scene. On Thursday lunch hour, a tap room was overflowing with Scotland supporters, and a large yellow flag hung over the first-floor balcony proclaiming, “Remember Bannockburn 1315”
Among the many locations the Tartan Army could have chosen for their World Cup adventure, Boston stands out as a city with a storied history of resisting English rule. Fans donned attire reminiscent of William Wallace, mingling with tour guides dressed as Paul Revere. Some wore “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,” T-shirts, where the ‘T’ cleverly represents Tennent’s beer. Nearby, at the historic site of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Scottish Football Association has transformed a local pub into Scotland House, even securing sponsorship from M&S Food.
This venue, with a capacity of 2,000, is expected to be full on Saturday night, welcoming fans who traveled to the U.S. without tickets for the game against Haiti, all eager for complimentary Percy Pigs. Many bars across the city are already bustling, with patrons sharing their excitement in interviews with local television. With flights from Scotland fully booked throughout the week, estimates indicate that as many as 40,000 Scots may be making their way to New England for the World Cup.
“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.” shares Gordon Sheach. “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 manages the Tartan Scarf account on social media, which has become a growing repository of clips and discussions surrounding Scotland’s revival on the international stage. After Euro 2020, a trip to Germany two years ago, and now a return to the World Cup after 28 years, expectations are high. “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.” he states. “What we’ve got is a squad that has rebounded numerous times from disappointment,”
Alan Risk, another devoted fan and contributor to the Hampden Roar podcast, views Scotland’s journey under Clarke as a testament to resilience and unity among supporters. “As a fanbase, we’ve done the exact same thing.” he remarks. “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.” The narratives of players such as Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay have emerged against the backdrop of early challenges and setbacks. “I think Haiti will come out of the traps very fast,”
Scotland’s World Cup history is riddled with instances of dashed hopes, from being eliminated in 1974 without a loss to the dismal campaign of 1978, a solitary point in 1986, and painful defeats in subsequent tournaments. Yet, Sheach and Risk remain optimistic, believing in a victory on Saturday night. “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.” Risk predicts. “This is just as big a moment for them as it is for us, if not more so,”
The match will take place at the FIFA-renamed Boston Stadium, located 22 miles from the city in Foxborough. Fans will embark on another journey to the venue, with reports of numerous school buses arranged to transport Scotland supporters. Sheach and Risk plan to take the first train, paying $80 (£60) for a round trip, arriving three hours before kick-off in hopes of engaging with Haitian fans. “It’s their first World Cup game in more than 50 years. So I think it’s a very special thing. It’s just one of those unique moments the World Cup can throw up.” Sheach explains. “It’s their first World Cup game in over 50 years. It’s a unique moment that only the World Cup can create.”
