Scotland fans, known as the Tartan Army, have relocated from Boston to Miami for their World Cup group stage finale against Brazil. The shift has brought a wave of energy to Florida, with locals embracing the festive atmosphere.
Scotsmaxxing in Miami
On Monday night, the baseball game between the Miami Marlins and Texas Rangers at LoanDepot Park turned into a mass gathering for the Scots, who brought the same enthusiasm they displayed at Fenway Park days earlier. TV cameras focused on the stands as locals joined in to capture the moment.
Local politicians welcomed the Tartan Army to Ocean Drive for a formal march along the boardwalk. Bars are competing for customers with signs reading “we’ve got beer,” referencing the legend of the Tartan Army drinking Boston dry. However, one fan remixed “No Scotland, no party” in the style of Pitbull.
Fan Reactions
“It’s hot, too hot. Very, very hot,” said Clark from Dalkeith, standing on a sidewalk in Miami. “I want a wee Arctic blast for about half an hour to calm down.” Outside the Auld Dubliner in downtown, Scots gathered to watch the England game. The mood was upbeat, with locals sharing the vibe.
“Everybody loves the Scots,” said Graeme from Perth, who believed his accent attracted local women. “You know our reputation is global. It’s well deserved. We’re good guys.” He added, “It’s just the English that people don’t like.”
Comparison to Boston
Bostonians reportedly bemoaned the Scots' departure, noting that the arriving English fans aren't as fun. The Boston consensus was that the city centre hadn’t been so lively in years. Miami, known as a party town, now gets its turn.
Chris from Glasgow said he missed New England. “I like Boston better because everything was closer,” he said. “The beach is great but it’s quite far away. The people are just as nice as in Boston but they’re all from Colombia and Argentina and they’re difficult to understand.”
Upcoming Match
With about 24 hours until kick-off, plans were in place for a return to the Marlins, where a bond formed with pitcher Tyler Philips, who said he could feel the energy “in my chest.” Every bar is likely to be packed, with two-hour queues for the fanzone.
Brazil fans are also arriving. Clark said any Brazilians he met were “great craic,” though others only saw them at hotels. The expectation is for a showstopping gathering before the match.
Prospects for Scotland
Regarding Scotland's chances of advancing beyond the group stage for the first time, confidence remained high. “My heart says 1-0 Scotland, my head says 1-1,” said Graeme. Clark predicted, “I think Brazil will win, but I’m very hopeful that Scotland will still qualify. If we keep it to a 1-0 defeat, we’ll go through.”
With that, it was time to return to the bar, where the game was restarting and a traffic cone sat among empty glasses.
