Scotland’s Tartan Army followed the national team from Boston to Miami last week, turning a Marlins game against the Texas Rangers into an evening of World Cup-themed festivities. The Marlins promoted a “Tartan Army ticket package” ahead of Monday’s game, which drew the supporters’ group to loanDepot park.
Pregame activities included a march into the ballpark, a concert from Nick Morgan — who released “No Scotland, No Party” before the 2024 Euros — and a ceremonial first pitch by injured Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour. The first 250 members arriving for the event received vouchers for a free beer.
Members of the Tartan Army played bagpipes on the field before the game and were seen singing and chanting in the stands as Marlins starter Tyler Phillips took the mound. Videos circulated of fans marching in Little Havana and piping near concession areas inside loanDepot park; one supporter also caught a foul ball during the contest.
The Marlins fell 4-3 on the night. Official attendance was 20,008, the eighth-highest total for the club this season, according to ESPN Research.
The Miami stop followed a weekend in Boston, where the Red Sox hosted a “Scotland Day” on June 14 that drew at least 5,000 fans to Fenway Park and featured the singing of “The Flower of Scotland” after the U.S. national anthem. The national team played two matches in Boston — a 1-0 win against Haiti and a 1-0 loss to Morocco — and the parent company of Sam Adams reported that its Boston Taproom ran out of Boston Lager after the first weekend in the city.
Scotland will face Brazil in Miami on Wednesday with a place in the knockout stages still on the line.
