When Scotland's finest footballers were last at the World Cup in 1998, David Moffat supported the side from his home in Inverness.
Issued on: 19/06/2026 - 20:30Modified: 19/06/2026 - 20:32
2 min Reading time
"I remember coming back from school and watching Brazil v Scotland with my brother," said the 43-year-old in Boston on the morning of Scotland's second match at the 2026 World Cup. Said sibling Andrew is back in Scotland. "He couldn't justify the cost," said Moffat as he was finishing breakfast at his hotel. "Obviously, we've been speaking on WhatsApp ... I think he's a bit jealous." Unsurprising. Scotland's notoriously boisterous fans - nicknamed the Tartan Army - have invaded Boston and captured the hearts of the locals with a charm offensive par excellence. Thousands of Scottish fans went to Fenway Park on Wednesday to attend the Boston Red Sox baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Football history: Jules Rimet, the man behind the World Cup plan On Thursday, Boston's mayor Michelle Wu yielded. She signed a letter of intent to twin her city with Glasgow. "We are both cities that are champions of arts and culture and innovation," said Wu. "But also we are willing to fight for it. We have the grit, we have the passion for making sure people are at the centre of everything that we do." Scotland football fans go baseball Moffat was among the Fenway throng. "As an experience, it was good," he said. "But I don't think the game itself was that good." On Friday morning, of more concern to the management accountant was Scotland's match against Morocco that night at Boston Stadium and purchasing a ticket. "I hoped to pick one up here in Boston but prices seem to be going up," he said. Back home, he explained, a season ticket to watch the 18 home games of his club Inverness Caledonian costs just over €400. He said he was being quoted prices of around $1,000 for Scotland's World Cup game against the African champions. "They're ridiculous prices but because Scotland don't qualify all the time for the World Cup, fans want to be here." Searching for a ticket After paying just over €3,000 for his six-day trip to the United States, he admitted he was uncertain about how much he was willing to lay out for a ticket to the game. "Of course, there's an element of ripping off fans and if I don't get a ticket, I'll watch the game in a bar. Loads of places will be showing the match." Following the 1-0 win over Haiti on 13 June in Boston, Scotland will advance to the last 32 knockout stages for the first time in nine visits to the World Cup with victory over Morocco. A draw should set them up with a good chance of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams. By then, Moffat will be in Scotland following a week of new sights and sounds. "I'll take back good memories," he smiled. "Everybody has made us feel very welcome."
