Boston’s statues are wearing traffic cones – just like the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow. The city has become a little Scotland, with Saltires outnumbering flags marking 250 years of US independence and fans in kilts filling every street. It is, as Adam Gray, 39, from Haddington, put it, “a festival atmosphere.”
Between 20,000 and 30,000 Scottish fans have travelled to Massachusetts for Scotland’s first men’s World Cup match in 28 years – a clash against Haiti at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough. “It’s a Scotland invasion, absolutely everyone is here. I don’t know how there’s anyone left at home,” said David Martin, 28, from Glasgow, who quit his job to make the trip.
“Scotland fans flood Boston, statues get traffic cones, and John McGinn scores first World Cup goal in 28 years.”
Local politicians have noticed. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey told reporters she had been speaking to judges who “could not hear anything in the courthouse because of the noise outside from the Tartan Army.” She joked, “I think I’m going to have to call Canada and call the governors in Maine and Vermont to put out an SOS for more alcohol.” The city is now considering a consumption zone to cope.
Celebrities including Gerard Butler, Martin Compston and Richard Gadd have joined the pre-match festivities. Fans queuing for beer have bumped into old friends from opposite ends of the world – Niall Stone, who moved to Australia, ran into his schoolmate Adam Gray in a beer line.
On the pitch, Scotland’s return started promisingly. John McGinn broke the deadlock with a deflected strike in the first half – the nation’s first World Cup goal in 28 years. As one half-time report put it, “Half way there. As it stands, Scotland are top of the group, above Brazil and Morocco.”
But Scotland’s talisman Scott McTominay, who overcame a stomach bug, had earlier rattled the post. Haiti, playing with a fluid 4-2-4, posed threats through Bellegarde and Pierrot, and goalkeeper Angus Gunn had a shaky moment spilling a shot that was ruled offside. With four minutes of added time signalled, Scotland led 1-0 but knew the job was only half done.