“It’s hot, too hot. Very, very hot,” remarks Clark from Dalkeith, standing on a sidewalk in Miami. “I want a wee Arctic blast for about half an hour to calm down.”
The gathering outside the Auld Dubliner in downtown Miami draws a crowd of Scots eager to watch the England match, seemingly for reasons beyond mere schadenfreude. The atmosphere is lively, with locals joining in the excitement, and spirits remain high as drinks continue to flow.
“Everybody loves the Scots,” adds Graeme, a friend of Clark from Perth, who believes many local women have been charmed by his accent since his arrival. “You know our reputation is global. It’s well deserved. We’re good guys.” He leans in to whisper, “It’s just the English that people don’t like.”
Florida has now become the new hub for the Tartan Army, who recently left Boston where they had gathered in anticipation of Wednesday’s critical Group C match against Brazil. A wave of excitement has accompanied their arrival, with both media and locals eager to join the festivities. Floridians are keen to embrace the Tartan Army, contrasting with Bostonians who lament their departure and feel the incoming English fans lack the same vibrant spirit.
On Monday night, a baseball game between the Florida Marlins and Texas Rangers turned into a major event for the Scots, who brought the same energy and anthems that they had shared at Fenway Park just ten days earlier. This time, anticipation built as television coverage featured a camera focused on the stands, capturing both the Scots and curious locals who wanted to document the occasion.
Scotsmaxxing has evolved into a form of entertainment across America. Local politicians welcomed the Tartan Army to Ocean Drive for a formal parade along the boardwalk. Bars, eager to attract traveling patrons, are displaying signs reading “I like Boston better because everything was closer,” referencing the Tartan Army’s legendary ability to drink Boston dry. However, not all developments are positive; someone has even created a remix of “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.” in the style of Pitbull.
The contrast between Miami and Boston is stark, not least due to the warmer climate. Chris from Glasgow, sitting outside the Auld Dubliner, admits he misses New England. “My heart says 1-0 Scotland, my head says 1-1,” he explains. “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 only about 24 hours until kickoff, plans are underway for a return to the Marlins, where a bond has been established with the team’s fiery pitcher Tyler Philips, who previously mentioned feeling the crowd’s energy “in my chest.” Every bar is expected to be packed, with two-hour lines forming to enter the fanzone as fans eagerly seek to engage in the tartan festivities.
There’s also the anticipation of Brazil’s arrival. Clark mentions that the Brazilians he has encountered have been “great craic,” while others noted they had only seen rival fans at their hotel. Expectations are running high for a spectacular gathering of fans before the match, with videos expected to circulate shortly afterward.
Regarding the game and Scotland’s chances of advancing beyond the group stage for the first time in World Cup history, confidence remains unshaken among the traveling supporters. “My heart says 1-0 Scotland, my head says 1-1,” Graeme predicts, as either result would secure progression. Clark adds, “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 head back to the bar, where the game was about to resume and someone had just placed a traffic cone amid a pile of empty glasses.
- Scotland
- World Cup 2026
- World Cup
- features
