Scots in Miami: how the Tartan Army copes in a new city at the World Cup

 Scottish fans descended on Miami for the World Cup, turning out in their thousands in the sunny state of Florida despite extreme temperatures. Members of the Tartan Army began arriving in Miami ahead of Wednesday's match against Brazil. On Monday, the temperature was almost 35 degrees Celsius, and the wind chill index showed even 43 degrees. After days of enjoying the atmosphere of the World Cup in Boston, fans arrived in a city that did not remind them at all of their previous stay. In Boston, Scottish fans dominated the bars and landmarks of the city, creating a sort of "mini-Scotland". In Miami, the Tartan Army is spread over a much larger area, which makes their presence less noticeable. Fans are starting to arrive at the bars along the famous Ocean Drive, and they are also taking cruises along the coast or staying in nearby towns. They also share the city with a large Latino community, which means there are many Brazilian and Argentine fans in the area. If Boston was a "home in exile" for the Scots, they now find themselves in the footballing heart of South America. On South Beach, brothers Peter and Tom McKenna from the Isle of Man said the "vibes" between the cities were completely different. Peter said: "Boston is much smaller, the Scots had a big party there. It's a different city. I think Boston was surprised by the number of visitors, whereas in Miami they are familiar with it." The brothers have been traveling for two weeks, and Peter returns home to his children after Wednesday's match, while Tom is considering extending his stay. He added: "You could say that I would open a can of worms and extend my stay." In turn, father and son, Pete and Jamie Brown, started their adventure with the World Cup fresh after their arrival. Pete admitted: "Last week we were sitting at home, looking at Tartan Army with so much pride. I've always wanted to come to Miami, it's a glamor city. If I could, I wanted to bring my son here. It's a glamor match, isn't it?" Jamie added: "I think Boston would be more suited to a soccer trip, and in Miami it's more like a vacation with a game during it." Dave Robertson of Montrose also came from Boston to Miami. He told the BBC it would be a different experience for Scottish fans. "I think this time we will be reduced in numbers. Brazilian fans dress in an amazing way, it will be completely different from ours. But when we are together, it will still be an amazing atmosphere." Dave added that he was initially concerned that the people of Miami would not embrace Tartan Army like the people of Boston did. However, these fears were put to rest when, in the south of the city, in the so-called Little Havana, thousands of Scottish fans took part in a march towards the stadium. In Boston, the police were very lenient towards Scots, who could drink during the marches and there were no problems with it. Dave said, "In Boston it was more relaxed. The police were happy to have us, we could do almost anything. Here in Miami it's different, I heard you can't touch the monuments." Steven Baird, from Peterhead, took part in the march and said: "It was nice to see. People came out of their houses and greeted us. It was nice to see that people were interested in it." As you can see, the residents are interested, but do the city authorities share it?this interest? We will find out on Wednesday after the match against Brazil. For most fans, this will be the match they have been looking forward to. The Scots are currently playing poorly in the group, they are second in the group with three points after defeating Haiti 1-0. They need to play much better against Brazil. If they win, they will advance to the next round. A draw will give them a good chance to advance, and even a loss will not eliminate them from advancing. However, they must wait for the results of other groups. If the Scots finish third in their group, they will have to wait until June 27 to find out whether they will advance to the next round. --- ## Related Articles 1. [Luka Zidane Discusses Mental Challenges at World Cup 2026](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/luka-zidane-discusses-mental-challenges-at-world-cup-2026) 2. [Crucial Role for Substitute Hadj Moussa in Algeria's World Cup Campaign](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/crucial-role-for-substitute-hadj-moussa-in-algerias-world-cup-campaign)