Tartan Army's Boston takeover sparks Glasgow sister city deal at World Cup 2026

Boston and Glasgow are now officially sister cities — a bond forged in less than a week by thousands of Scotland supporters who descended on the Massachusetts capital for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu made the announcement on Thursday at The Haven, a Scottish restaurant in the city, crediting the Tartan Army with turning Boston into what she called the tournament’s standout host. “We are the city of champions, so we knew that this was going to be a great experience for us,” Wu said. “But I think we’ve won one more title this time around: Boston is clearly the best host city for the World Cup right now, and that is, thanks in large part, to the Tartan Army.”

The Scottish supporters have been a near-constant presence across the city since Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 at Boston Stadium last Saturday — the nation’s first World Cup victory in a match that also marked its first appearance at the tournament since France 1998. Clips of fans riding the City Hall Plaza slide and packing bars across the city spread rapidly on social media, while Fenway Park saw a surge of tartan-clad attendees at Boston Red Sox games as supporters filled the days between Scotland’s first two group fixtures.

The economic impact has been equally striking. Noelle Somers, chief operating officer at Hennessy’s Bar, told the Boston Globe that sales have “tripled” their St. Patrick’s Day figures since the World Cup began — a benchmark that carries considerable weight in one of America’s most Irish-identified cities.

Not every Scottish fan stayed put. Some made the trip to New York City during the break, though the verdict on that detour was pointed. One supporter told ESPN that New York was simply “not as good as Boston.”

Wu reflected on what the week had revealed about the two cities. “What has been most beautiful about this whole experience is not just seeing fans who are as passionate about your teams, your heritage, your culture as Boston fans are, but then seeing those connections built across different cultures too,” she said. “We are both cities that are champions of arts and culture and innovation, but also we are willing to fight for it.”

Scotland play their second Group C match on Friday, facing Morocco at Boston Stadium. Their final group stage game is against Brazil at Miami Stadium. Depending on how the group resolves, Scotland could yet return to Boston for the knockout rounds.