Scottish football fans have become one of the biggest talking points of the World Cup in the United States, with the Tartan Army earning widespread praise from locals wherever they have travelled. Nowhere has that affection been more evident than in Boston, where thousands of Scotland fans transformed the city into what many described as a home away from home.
However, a news report on TikTok has now highlighted what one journalist claims has been a very different reception for England supporters who arrived after Scotland's fans departed. In fact, the local highlighted one thing English fans have been doing that has not gone down well with Boston residents.
TikTok Report Highlights Fan Divide
The news report was published on TikTok by Herbert Bauernebel, a freelance journalist based in the United States who operates under his own outlet, Bauernebel News. The clip quickly gained attention online, attracting more than 300,000 views and 18,800 likes as football fans debated the difference between Scotland and England fans.
In the video, Bauernebel claimed that Scottish fans had completely won over the city during their stay in Massachusetts. "The Scots are gone. The English are here and people in Boston are not happy," he declared.
Bauernebel stated that tensions emerged when English fans started singing songs mocking Scotland and its supporters, which was not taken lightly by the Bostonians. He explained: "The English fans were singing negative songs against their rivals from the North and this has really infuriated the population in Boston, who basically confronted the English fans to show a more civilised behaviour towards the Scottish fans who are so famous now and loved in Boston."
Boston Locals Defend Scottish 'Cousins'
And it seems that behaviour won't be tolerated by Boston locals, as they took to the comment section of the video to stick up for their new Scottish friends. One comment read: "I don’t mind the English visiting, but they better not be messing with my Scottish brothers and sisters," as another agreed: "Please respect our Scottish cousins!!!"
While one Boston local stated: "I work near Boston Stadium. The Scots were a delight! Made many friends. The English were here today. It was the absolute opposite! Rude and disrespectful."
Scotland Fans' Impact in Boston
Describing the impact of Scotland’s travelling support, Bauernebel noted that around 10,000 fans descended on Boston ahead of the Scotland games. He stated: "This is one of the more riveting side stories of the World Cup. Thousands of them, 10,000 really, and the city fell in love with their visitors."
According to the report, Scottish supporters spent their days socialising with locals, filling pubs and creating a welcoming atmosphere across the city. However, the tone reportedly changed once Scotland's supporters moved on to Miami for the match against Brazil and were replaced by England fans.
In the days leading up to Scotland's first two group stage matches against Haiti and Morocco, Boston's bars, restaurants and streets were packed with supporters dressed in kilts, roaring football chants and playing bagpipes. Local businesses were running out of booze and enjoying the high spirits, while locals embraced the influx of Scots with open arms.
Additionally, stories of Scottish fans posing for photographs, sharing drinks with locals and taking over the Boston Red Sox game quickly spread across local news outlets and residents' social media accounts.
The bond between Boston residents and Scotland supporters became such a talking point that people jokingly suggested the city could experience a "Boston baby boom" in nine months time due to the popularity of the travelling Tartan Army.
The Tartan Army have now descended down south to Miami, where Scotland will take on Brazil at Miami Stadium with kick off at 11pm BST.
