How Scotland's fans 'conquered' the USA at the World Cup

While the Scottish national football team has secured one win out of as many matches played at the FIFA World Cup in the United States, their supporters, known collectively as the Tartan Army, have emerged as a major draw, particularly in Massachusetts. Between 20,000 and 30,000 Scottish fans have based themselves in the Boston area for the tournament.

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Tartan Army

The Tartan Army's presence has been marked by enthusiastic engagement. A significant gathering culminated at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, which hosted a Scotland-themed night where fans bought out an entire seating section. The atmosphere during the national anthem before Scotland's 1-0 victory over Haiti was reportedly deafening, with sound levels reaching 125 decibels – a volume considered potentially harmful without ear protection.

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sound of up to 125 decibels

Beyond the stadium, Scottish fans have embraced local customs with a distinctive flair. In a nod to a long-standing Glasgow tradition, they have begun placing traffic cones atop Boston monuments. This playful act, mirroring the practice of adorning the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow, has become a notable sight. Furthermore, American media outlets have widely reported on the fans' considerable alcohol consumption, with some Boston bars reportedly running out of stock.

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Scottish fans are drinking huge amounts of alcohol during the World Cup, to the point that some bars in Boston completely ran out of supplies.

The Scottish fans' activities have added a unique dimension to the World Cup experience in the U.S., transforming what might be considered a "tea party" into a "drinking party," as one description put it. Their spirited presence and cultural interactions have made them, in many respects, the "darlings" of the tournament, at least off the field.

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the Scots, in their own way, decided to turn the tea party into a drinking party.