Scotland and Norway fans turn Boston into a 'triple St. Patrick's Day' during World Cup

Scottish and Norwegian supporters have transformed Boston into one of the World Cup’s most unlikely party capitals, with bars and liquor stores reporting demand equivalent to three St. Patrick’s Days as international fans flood the city’s pub scene.

Scotland opened the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Haiti on Friday night, but the celebrations began long before kick-off. Scottish fans descended on downtown Boston and cleared shelves of beer, seltzers, and ciders — including Corona, Budweiser, Coors, and Tennent’s Lager, Scotland’s most popular brew — according to the Boston Globe.

The Tartan Army’s presence extended well beyond the bars. Supporters took over Fenway Park during a Red Sox game against the Texas Rangers on Sunday night, and the fan group donated nearly $30,000 to local charities, drawing widespread praise from the city.

Norway’s supporters followed with a similarly vivid entrance after their team’s 4-1 victory over Iraq on Tuesday afternoon. Fans paraded through Boston’s streets waving bright red national flags before packing local venues ahead of kick-off. They also went viral for performing their signature “Viking Row” celebration across major city landmarks.

The back-to-back influx has turned parts of Boston into a sustained festival atmosphere, with local businesses reporting the kind of foot traffic they associate only with the city’s most celebrated occasions.

The economic and cultural footprint left by both fan bases underlines the broader impact that major international football tournaments can have on host cities across the United States, with Boston emerging as one of the standout venues of the 2026 World Cup.