Scotland fans who have traveled to the U.S. to watch their team compete in the World Cup already have strong opinions about two major cities.
Both of Scotland’s first-round matches have been slated for Boston Stadium, leading to a fan takeover — reportedly 20,000 strong — of that city. Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 last week and are slated to take on Morocco Friday night.
Social media has been ablaze with videos of Scotland’s Tartan Army taking over the streets, marching with bagpipers to Fenway Park in the heart of the city, and, most notably, drinking the city dry.
So when hordes of fans traveled to New York City during the week between Scotland’s two first round matches, they were asked how it stacks up against Boston.
“I’ve noticed it’s not as good as Boston,” one fan told ESPN of the Big Apple.
Another was eager to get back to Boston, saying: “We’ve got to get back to the good American side.”
Others were left with better impressions of New York City, saying the people were “very friendly, very welcoming.”
Scotland fans have certainly been making the most of their time in the Massachusetts state capital. Multiple bars have reported running out of beer and needing emergency shipments.
Noelle Somers, chief operating officer at Hennessy’s Bar in central Boston, told the Boston Globe that demand after Scotland’s match against Haiti tripled that of St. Patrick’s Day. The bar ran out of beer Sunday night and was restocked Monday morning. They were expecting another delivery Thursday ahead of Scotland’s matchup against Morocco.
“We’ve been here for over 30 years and we’ve never seen anything like it,” Somers told the publication.
Brewing company Sam Adams also reported running out, with demand for its Boston lager four times what its taproom typically sees during a holiday period.
Beyond the imbibing during their stay in New England, Scotland fans have also adopted a Rhode Island-based mascot: Dawn the Duck.
The feathered supporter with a significant social media following donned a Scottish flag on his back, alongside his signature golden medallion, to lead the procession ahead of Friday’s World Cup fixture against Morocco.
Dawn is well-known as a “rally duck,” having first gained prominence in 2024 after attending a Providence College Friars basketball game. However, he was subsequently prohibited from the stadium due to animal welfare concerns.
His participation follows a trend, with Mexico fans previously adopting a duck named Merlin as their own unofficial mascot.
