How Boston won the 2026 World Cup


BOSTON — In a few years, when we talk about the 2026 World Cup, most people will probably say something like, "Hey, do you remember how awesome it was in Boston!?" That's why Boston has already won the 2026 World Cup. No other city in North America has embraced and welcomed World Cup fans like Boston. And fans have embraced Boston as their second home. It's easy to get around, the fans are at the center of everything, there's so much history to see, and the beautiful places to gather to soak it all in are perfect. There are amazing vibes everywhere. Casey Cotter is from the Boston area and works at a hotel near Foxborough Stadium. He lives the dream of the World Championships. He and his friend Mike Alibrandi have been to the Fan Zone watching the games and making new friends as fans from different countries come to Boston and have a great time. Casey and Mike joked that they wanted the World Championships to be held in Boston every four years. "It was amazing. It was just unbelievable," Cotter said. "I love the atmosphere, everyone who comes with their own experiences of the game. I love that we gain respect for the sport thanks to all the people around us. People who have no interest in the sport start to appreciate it thanks to those they meet from all over the world. I love sharing this sport, which these people are so passionate about, with people who have no idea about it, and they become fans of it. What I see with all these people who come here is just becoming become a fan of this sport.” Will the fact that Boston hosted World Cup games have a huge impact on the city in the coming years? "100%. For the sake of the Scots, we're already starting petitions to put a Tartan Army monument in Boston," Cotter replied with a smile. Scottish fans celebrate the evening before the 2026 World Cup match between Morocco and Scotland in Boston, June 18, 2026 (photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP) Scottish musicians Sean Cousins ​​and Calum MacPhail were sitting at home in Inverness, Scotland, and decided the views in Boston were too good not to experience. They hopped on a plane and arrived in Boston just before Scotland played Morocco. "We saw it and watched the first game against Haiti on TV and thought, 'We have to be there!' So we planned it at the last minute. We arrived for the game against Morocco on Friday, flying out the day of the game. It was crazy plans to get from the airport to the game, but it was amazing. The energy was indescribable," Cousins ​​explained. “Did seeing Scotland in Boston meet our expectations?” "It 100% surpassed them. It was a blast on Saturday. Most of the Tartan Army fans left on Sunday, so it wasn't as much fun, but it was worth coming," added MacPhail. Both men emphasized that the city of Boston welcomed their Scots fans perfectly. “It was amazing, even the police had fun with us and respected our antics,” MacPhail joked. Days after Scots fans left Boston, "cones" still sit on the heads of monuments around the city, a form ofjoke from fans. Despite them, Bostonians still smile when they pass by and see the monuments, recalling those chaotic, beautiful days when Scots fans dominated the city. Boston has seen a lot of different nationalities in the first two weeks of the World Cup as it has played host to four national teams and will host three more soon. Fans of various nationalities began to flock to Boston. Scottish fans practically cleared out the bars in Boston, and fans from Norway, Iraq and Morocco also came to town. “It's no joke, Scottish fans literally cleaned out some places in Boston,” one bartender in Boston told me. "I've never seen anything like this in my life. Everyone in Boston is so happy to welcome these fans. Boston is a sports town, so it's a perfect fit." Representatives of Scotland and Norway at a joint event in Boston (photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP) England fans also came to Boston, bringing additional energy and chaos. And French fans announce that they will also show up in Boston in large numbers. The Norwegian fans stayed in Boston, as well as the Argentine fans who waved flags and rode unicycles in the city yesterday. Cap Verde fans were also visible in Boston, happy with their team's historic tie. There were also discussions in the city about tactics between Scottish and English fans in pubs. French fans worked the venues and the city center echoed with cheers from fans as they gathered to watch the games. And at one of the fairs, fans of different nationalities gathered to watch matches together. And there were many Scots fans who decided to stay in Boston even though their team's next game was in Miami. "Boston is amazing. Everyone is very friendly. We feel welcome in this city," said English fan Anoushka Probyn. Virtually everyone I've talked to says the same thing. Fans will have a great time in any World Cup host city, but they have the best time in Boston. This city has embraced a hospitable mood from the very beginning of the tournament. The local authorities do not take very seriously the fact that they are in a leading position during the World Cup. Police officers in Boston dressed up as Scots fans and juggled balls in the streets. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu danced in the Fan Zone with Haitian fans while wearing their costumes. And the governor of Massachusetts signed an executive order declaring haggis legal in the state. Boston and Glasgow are now sister cities. “I don't think other cities can top it,” Cousins ​​said, referring to the atmosphere in Boston compared to other World Cup host cities. Scottish fans made such an impression on the owner of the New England Patriots football team that he began to demand that a football match be held in Scotland in the coming years. Everyone hopes this special connection between Boston and Scotland will last for many years to come. “It would be great if it became an annual thing because all the Scottish fans had a great time in Boston and everyone in Boston had a great time,” Cousins ​​added. "Sister cities are a great thing and the fact that haggis has been made legal in Boston should be celebrated. Why not make it a day for fans from Scotland to come toBoston and everyone will have a good time?” And for Boston itself, residents hope that their city will apply to host the Olympic Games in the future. "I love everyone I've met - the Scots, the Iraqis, the Norwegians, the Haitians, the English. They all brought amazing vibes and positive energy to Boston. We want them to come back as often as possible," Cotter said with a huge smile on his face. And it was this attitude of the people of Boston that led Boston to win the 2026 World Cup.