World Cup fans have injected new energy into Major League Baseball, with supporters from England, Scotland, Norway, and Australia attending games in host cities. The crossover between the World Cup and the MLB regular season has created a unique cultural collision, as international soccer fans bring their chants and traditions to America's pastime.
England fans create viral moment in Atlanta
On 1 July, England supporters attended a game between the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals at Truist Park, fresh off their team's last-32 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fans filled the center-field bleachers, hung flags, and serenaded Braves center-fielder Michael Harris with chants like "Walking in a Harris wonderland!" and "Baseball's coming home – with Michael Harris!" Harris, a 25-year-old local product, responded by posting a video captioned "England Lit!" and later arrived at the ballpark wearing an England jersey. He correctly predicted a 3-2 win for England over Mexico in the last 16.
The Braves worked with the British consulate and the Football Supporters' Association to arrange discounted tickets and free bus services. A special allowance let fans bring flags inside the ballpark. The team hired a cover band called Broasis, decorated a red double-decker bus, and made "England is Braves Country" T-shirts that "flew like hotcakes," according to Adam Zimmerman, the Braves' senior vice-president of marketing and content.
Scotland fans pack Fenway Park
The Boston Red Sox hosted a Scottish Heritage Celebration Night on 14 June against the Texas Rangers, drawing more than 5,000 members of the Tartan Army among a crowd of 32,006 at Fenway Park. The fans led a bagpipers' march down Lansdowne Street, sang "Flower of Scotland" after the national anthem, and roared when the organist played "Loch Lomond." Red Sox president wrote a letter thanking Scotland for "genuinely one of the most moving things we have witnessed at Fenway Park in a long time." Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said his team played "No Scotland, No Party" in the clubhouse after wins.
Attendance boosts across host cities
More than 5 million fans attended home games of the 14 MLB teams in 12 World Cup host cities (including Toronto) from 11 June to 5 July. The average attendance across those markets was 35,326, higher than the same stretch in three of the past four seasons. The Miami Marlins saw their biggest Monday crowd in nine years on 22 June, with an estimated 8,000 Scotland fans among 20,008 attendees. The Texas Rangers hosted Australia fans at Globe Life Field, where one Socceroos fan made headlines for a barehanded catch of a foul ball.
Norway fans celebrate at Citi Field
Norway fans brought their trademark row celebration to a New York Mets doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs on 24 June. One fan, Daniel from outside Oslo, told MLB.com that Citi Field was "the most beautiful sports venue he'd ever visited." The Mets lost both games amid a seven-game losing streak.
Ceremonial first pitches by soccer figures
Several soccer stars have thrown ceremonial first pitches, including England manager Thomas Tuchel in Kansas City and Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí in San Diego. US head coach Mauricio Pochettino threw out the first pitch at T-Mobile Park in Seattle before the US last-16 game, after practicing with goalkeeper Matt Turner, a former high school baseball player.
