The Scottish invasion of Boston did not begin with a full-scale occupation. The first delegation arrived at Logan Airport a few days before Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti at Gillette Stadium. Walking around Boston, you may have noticed a few kilts, the faint sound of bagpipes in the distance, and glistening bald heads beaming in the sunshine. The visitors warned us that they were merely the first wave and that all of Glasgow would soon be at Boston’s doorstep. Despite the warning, we were not prepared for what happened next.

By Friday, the “Tartan Army” was everywhere. Their banners, flags, and colors hung from every boat, bar, and bus in town. Men in kilts traversed the city, consuming beers at a record pace. The eternal drone of bagpipes became the soundtrack of the city, and their chant—“No Scotland… No Party…”—was sung by the army and their adoring Bostonians alike.

By Saturday afternoon, the army began its long march to “Boston Stadium,”
conveniently located an hour outside Boston. Unfazed by the travel logistics, they
arrived by train, plane, and automobile, ready to support their nation after a 28-year absence from the World Cup. When it came time for the national anthem, it seemed as though all 65,000 fans in attendance rose in unison and belted out “Flower of Scotland,” creating one of the most unique atmospheres Gillette has experienced since the Tom Brady era.

You would think the Tartan Army would take Sunday off to rest, recover, and prepare for its next match on Friday. But the Scots were ready for a victory lap. John Henry has made plenty of questionable decisions as Red Sox owner, but scheduling Scottish Heritage Night the evening after Scotland’s World Cup opener was not one of them. The Tartan Army marched from Evans Park to Fenway in full kilt regalia, blasting bagpipes all the way down Lansdowne Street. The Scots then proceeded to stand and sing for what felt like all nine innings, transforming a mid-June MLB game between two mediocre baseball teams into one of the more memorable night in recent Fenway history.

Boston can often be an insular city, wary of outsiders and often slow to accept large scale events of experiences that would derail the professional attitude of a city that is either at work, school or waking up early in the morning to row or run. Credit to the Tartan Army for openings our hearts and reminding us that it’s ok to have a bit of fun.

Now, let’s get to some of the more memorable games of the tournament so far.

Brazil 1 – Morocco 1 – The first heavyweight matchup of the tournament paired a
fading superpower in Brazil against a rising force in Morocco. Morocco came out firing, scored the opening goal, and looked poised to cruise to victory until Brazil found an equalizer through a bit of magic from their star, Vinícius Júnior. Brazil looked tense throughout the match and was fortunate to escape with a draw.

Australia 2 – Turkey 0 – The first major upset of the tournament saw the Aussies pull off a smash-and-grab victory against Turkey, one of the dark horses entering the competition. This result changes the U.S. perspective a bit. Their final group-stage match against Turkey was expected to determine the group winner, but that honor may now be decided a week earlier against Australia in Seattle on Friday. It will be an interesting test for the Americans. Australia is content to defend in a low block and strike on the counter, exactly the formula that worked against Turkey. The U.S. has been vulnerable to this style of play in the past so you know they will be reviewing the game film seriously.

Netherlands 2 – Japan 2 – This was an enticing matchup between two teams with serious ambitions for the World Cup. A cagey first half gave way to a wide-open second half, with Japan twice coming from behind to earn a draw and split the points with the Dutch. Japan is always one of my favorite teams to watch at the World Cup. They are organized, technically sound, and play fearless football despite often being one of the smallest teams in the tournament. They also seem to improve with every World Cup appearance. That progression is no accident. In 1992, before they had even qualified for their first World Cup, the Japanese Football Association announced its “100-Year Vision” to win the World Cup by 2092. After qualifying for two World Cups, the JFA moved that target up to 2050. It takes a remarkable level of patience, belief, and intentionality to build a plan whose benefits may not be realized until your grandchildren’s generation. Many countries could learn from the Japanese approach.

Ivory Coast 1 – Ecuador 0 – After finishing second in South American qualifying,
Ecuador arrived at this World Cup with high expectations, backed by what seemed like the entire Ecuadorian diaspora on the East Coast. Fans took over the Rocky statue and blanketed Lincoln Financial Field in bright yellow, ready to support their side against a relatively unknown Ivorian team. Ecuador started brightly and created several good chances in the first half, but the Elephants absorbed the pressure and emerged from halftime looking capable of
stealing the match. Led by 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande, who spent his formative years developing as a player in the soccer bastion of Daytona Beach, Ivory Coast struck the winner in the 90th minute and left Philadelphia with all three points. Their next match against Germany on June 20 is a must-watch.

Spain 0 – Cape Verde 0 – Following Germany’s rout of Curaçao earlier on Sunday, discussion about the expanded tournament format and the inclusion of smaller nations began to sweep through soccer media. Those questions seemed likely to grow even louder if Spain, one of the tournament favorites, delivered a similar thrashing to Cape Verde, the third-smallest nation ever to participate in a World Cup. Instead, thanks to the heroics of 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha and center back Roberto Lopes—who was famously recruited by Cape Verde through LinkedIn—the Blue Sharks secured an improbable scoreless draw, sending Cape Verde supporters in Atlanta into absolute delirium. Spain has a history of starting tournaments slowly, so there is no reason for panic just yet. Still, questions will emerge about where the goals are going to come from in a team
that dominates possession but struggled to create clear chances.

As a big-J journalist, my goal is to bring the best possible coverage to the fans of Main Street Hooligans. To do that, I actually need to get out and attend some of these matches.

My World Cup journey begins later this evening, as I was able to secure a last-minute ticket to see Norway take on Iraq at Gillette Stadium. Keep an eye out for my next post, where I’ll share my thoughts and reflections from the front lines.

-Eli