More than 5,000 fans gathered at the Ovo Hydro arena in Glasgow to watch Scotland's first World Cup finals match since 1998. The atmosphere was electric as John McGinn's deflected goal secured a 1-0 victory over Haiti in the early hours of the morning.
A Night to Remember
It was around 2:28 AM in the UK when McGinn ended 28 years of hurt, and chants of "no Scotland, no party" echoed from Boston to Glasgow. The scenes after the goal were joyous, with sheer unbridled happiness and relief filling the air.
Dead-of-night watch parties were held across Scotland, with the biggest at the Ovo Hydro arena in Glasgow, where more than 5,000 fans celebrated the victory. When the final whistle blew, drinks flew into the air and the chant "no Scotland, no party" raised the roof.
Fans React
For neutrals, the match was between the 42nd-ranked Scotland and the 83rd-ranked Haiti. It was not a great footballing spectacle, but a laboured, anxiety-inducing victory that nobody cared about. A win is a win.
Darcy Morrison, 12, watching in Glasgow with her mother and brother, said, "It was really good, but I think we could have done better. I thought we were going to beat them 4-0 but we didn't."
Denise Rae, 52, from Aberdeen, dressed in a Scotland bucket hat and sunglasses, exclaimed, "It was amazing. It's been a long time coming. Come on, Scotland, we can do it. Let's get to the next round. No Scotland, no party!"
Fiona Barrie, 24, noted the game was a "big deal" for her sister Dee, who was born the last time Scotland were in the World Cup. "She was 74 minutes old at the final whistle. So it's a big deal for her," she said.
William MacGregor, 41, from Dumbarton, described the post-goal atmosphere as "bouncing. Drinks were flying everywhere when the goal went in. Not mine, I kept mine."
Celebrities and Officials
Among the famous faces in the stadium was Rod Stewart, who cancelled a gig in San Diego due to illness. He later posted a clip of himself and his sons on a private jet to Boston singing "no Scotland, no party." Stewart, 81, said he had been to six World Cups and that if Scotland could get through to the next round, "I'll die a happy man."
Also in the 64,000-plus crowd were actors Gerard Butler and Martin Compston, singer Clare Grogan, and chef Gordon Ramsay, who visited the players before the match, reportedly telling them: "Let's fucking go!"
Impact on Scotland
The victory means Scotland are now top of their group after Brazil drew with Morocco. Although not mathematically certain, things would have to turn against them for them not to qualify.
For Haiti, the result is disappointing, but qualifying was a massive achievement given no home fixtures due to humanitarian crisis and gang violence.
Most councils in Scotland extended licensing hours for bars and clubs on Sunday, and the hospitality trade expects a sales boost of about 40%. The king has approved First Minister John Swinney's proposal of a Scotland bank holiday on Monday 15 June.
First Minister Swinney described the team as "outstanding" and said the Tartan Army had been "great ambassadors for Scotland." He added, "I can tell you, there's not as lovely a feeling as being the first first minister in Scotland to see Scotland win a game in a World Cup."
