Soccer fans from around the world are soaking in the World Cup glory, from Boston to Foxboro and beyond, an environment they describe as “beautiful.”
Win or lose, scores of fans from Norway, Iraq and Scotland say that Greater Boston has welcomed them with open arms – and a strained beer supply, with so much celebration that some bars have run dry.
As Norway and Iraq played in their first match of the global tournament at Boston Stadium in Foxboro, Scottish fans continued to celebrate in the Hub, anxiously awaiting their country’s next game on Friday.
“The city is amazing, the people are beautiful, so engaging,” a Scottish fan named Tony told the Herald at a bustling Faneuil Hall on Tuesday afternoon. “It has been great.”
Tony and a group of friends, who are staying in Salem, passed a soccer ball, smiling and laughing – a scene that has played out often across the city since the World Cup began late last week. The group went to Saturday night’s Scotland 1-0 win over Haiti and is set to return to Foxboro on Friday.
Tony vowed that his country would be even louder than on Saturday, when Scottish fans registered 125 decibels singing the “Flower of Scotland,” the loudest national anthem recorded at a Boston-area stadium.
His friend, Craig, called Tuesday “more of a rest day,” admitting that the group had “drank a lot of beer” over the past few days.
This is Scotland’s first appearance in the World Cup since 1998.
“Everything is a bonus,” Craig said, “every game is a bonus. We’d like to stay a bit longer.”
Down in Foxboro, after arriving at a packed Boston Stadium, Iraqis and Norwegians took in the scene.
A Norwegian named Eric, 30, and his friend wore decorative horns, topping their gameday apparel. Eric described Boston as a “great city,” but he noted that he felt the $80 roundtrip Commuter Rail tickets from South Station were “too expensive.”
Norway is also making its first appearance in the World Cup since 1998.
‘We are Vikings,” Eric told the Herald. “We conquered Britain, we conquered America, now we are conquering Boston.”
The regional economic boon from the World Cup has appeared evident, with some Boston bars, such as Sam Adams Taproom and Hennessy’s, running completely dry at points, and long lines waiting to get into Patriot Place establishments.
“Moments like this bring out the special warmth we have here in Boston,” Boston Soccer 2026 President and CEO Mike Loynd told the Herald inside the noisy, energetic stadium. “This is our chance to show that.”
Boston Soccer 2026 is the nonprofit committee organizing the logistics behind the seven matches in Foxboro, receiving support from various organizations like New Balance, the Kraft Group and Regan Communications.
A fan for Iraq, Leitham grew up in Baghdad and is now a resident of Rhode Island. He brought his wife and kid to Tuesday evening’s match to witness his native country in action.
“We are so happy to see so many Iraqis,” Leitham said, smiling.
Even those without tickets to the matches in Foxboro are basking in the excitement that’s radiating from the tournament.
The FIFA Fan Festival at Boston City Hall, free admission, has already sold out pre-registration three times – last Friday and Saturday, and on Monday.
The festival – a massive viewing screen, with live entertainment, cultural showcases and local food vendors – is already sold out this Friday, when the U.S. plays in its next match, against Australia, at 3 p.m., followed by the next game in Boston, Scotland versus Morocco.
Scottish fan Stephen Spence and his wife, Lyn, flew out from Aberdeen, Scotland last Monday and have been staying in Rhode Island.
The couple did not go to Saturday’s game and don’t have tickets for Friday. Nonetheless, Spence called the trip a “double whammy,” since they’ve always wanted to visit Boston.
“It has been mayhem,” Spence said of Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in decades. “I don’t know if you guys realized what was going to happen when the Tartan Army descended in Boston. I don’t think you guys were ready.”
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