STV NewsThe 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally upon us and the Tartan Army are returning to football’s biggest stage for the first time in almost three decades.
Some diehards made an early trip stateside for last weekend’s warm-up friendly against Bolivia in New Jersey, and thousands more Scots will fly over the Atlantic to join them this week.
Steve Clarke’s side open their campaign this weekend against Haiti in Boston, where they will also face Morocco on June 19, before venturing south to Florida for a glamour encounter against Brazil in Miami on June 24.
STV News takes a look at what Scotland fans should expect in the United States as they embark on the trip of a lifetime.
Travelling to the US
Unlike the Euros in Germany, this is not a tale of planes, trains and automobiles, when supporters traversed the continent to arrive in Munich, Cologne and Stuttgart via all sorts of weird and wonderful routes.
If you’re travelling to the United States from Scotland, you will be spending some time 35,000 feet in the air.
First and foremost, if you don’t have an ESTA in place, get your application in right now.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation determines the eligibility of visitors to travel under the US Visa Waiver Programme and allow UK citizens to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa.
Travellers will not be allowed to board flights at their departure airport unless they have one in place. The final decision upon entry will be at the discretion of US Customs and Border Protection.
An ESTA costs $40 (£30) and is valid for two years once approved.
Getty ImagesSome Scots have reported issues with their ESTA status suddenly changing from ‘authorised’ to ‘pending’.
If that happens, contact US Customs on +1 2023258000 and ask for your ESTA application to be escalated.
What should I take with me to the matches/fan zones?
The official Foreign Office advice is that you should always carry a passport with you showing that you have permission to enter or remain in the US.
Fifa recently backtracked on its water bottle policy for the World Cup and is now allowing fans to bring in one sealed, disposable 20-ounce (590ml) bottle into stadiums.
All other food and drink items are prohibited, along with: Umbrellas of any size, noisemakers like air horns, vuvuzelas, whistles or drums, inflatables, balloons, large flags on poles, drones, professional cameras, GoPros, tripods and selfie sticks.
Getty ImagesLarge banners and flags on poles are also restricted under the prohibited items rules.
FIFA is operating a clear bag policy for the duration of the tournament, whereby only the following are permitted inside stadiums and fan zones:
- Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags (maximum size: 30cm x 15cm x30cm/12 in x 6in x 12in)
- Small clutches/wallets/purses (maximum size: 11.5cm x 16.5cm/4.5 in x 6.5in)
But sporrans have been given special dispensation and Scotland fans will be allowed to wear them with their kilts at the matches.
Match tickets will be in the form of mobile-only QR codes that become active on the day of the match, very similar to the app used for Scotland home internationals at Hampden.
Fans will not be permitted to re-enter the stadium once they have cleared security.
Boston
Scotland’s first two matches are at Gillette Stadium (branded Boston Stadium for the World Cup), home of the NFL’s New England Patriots.
They are against Haiti (9pm US time on June 13; 2am UK time on June 14) and Morocco (6pm US time on June 19; 11pm UK time).
The stadium is entirely cashless, so be prepared to pay with debit or credit cards or other forms of electronic payment.
Getty ImagesIn terms of the stadium, it’s actually some 30 miles south-west from central Boston in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is offering $80 (£60) round-trip train fares from South Station to Boston Stadium.
Those prices have proved controversial as they are more than four times the usual price for NFL games at the stadium. Usually, a matchday round trip costs $20 (£15) while non-matchday single tickets cost $8.75 (£6.50).
Yankee Line buses will also serve up to 10,000 fans per match, with tickets ranging from $25 to $95 (£19 to £71) based on distance.
Uber and Lyft have a designated pickup and drop-off area in Lot 15 at Gillette Stadium, near the CVS Health Gate. But surge pricing during World Cup matches can push the cost from a normal $50–$80 range up to $100–$200 or more, and post-match wait times are likely to exceed 30 minutes.
The Boston fan zone will be held at Boston City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02203, United States from June 12 to June 27.
It’s free and open to the public, but you must register for a pass in advance.
Miami
Scotland’s final group game is against five-time winners Brazil at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida – about 16 miles north of downtown Miami.
Fans will not be permitted to walk directly to the stadium, even if staying at a nearby hotel.
Getty ImagesMiami will provide free game day shuttles to verified ticket holders from four hubs on match days. They are:
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza Metrorail Station
- Golden Glades Park & Ride
- Brightline Aventura Station
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
If you don’t have a ticket, there is a FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami, which is free and easily accessible.
It’s within walking distance of most hotels in downtown and the bustling urban neighbourhood of Brickell. The festival runs from June 13 through July 5, with a daily capacity of up to 30,000 people.
What apps should I get?
Useful apps to have in the United States include:
- Ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft to hail minicabs
- The official FIFA app will provide live scores, fixtures, team news, stadium info, and updates during the tournament.
- FIFA tickets app is the main app used for managing World Cup tickets and entry passes.
What will the weather be like?
STV meteorologist Sean Batty has provided this update for Scots travelling to Massachusetts and Florida in the coming weeks:
“Well, it’s definitely going to be warmer there than it is here — although that wouldn’t be difficult given we’re only seeing temperatures in the mid-teens for most of this week!
“In fact, much of the US is set to warm up significantly as tropical air pushes northwards. By the end of the week, temperatures in Massachusetts could reach the low 30s, and because the air mass has tropical origins, humidity levels are likely to be quite high as well.
Getty Images“For the Haiti game itself, there’s a chance of some showery rain. Temperatures will have eased back from daytime highs in the 30s to somewhere in the low-to-mid 20s by kick-off, which will still feel very warm to us Scots!
“The Morocco game is still a little too far away for detailed forecasts, but at this stage it doesn’t look quite as hot. Even so, temperatures could still reach the high 20s – conditions that are more familiar to Morocco than to us. There is some potential for rain, but for now the chances look fairly low.
“The Miami game will almost certainly be the hottest and most humid of the lot. The one saving grace is that we’re not there for the opening game, as this weekend currently looks very thundery, with temperatures hovering around 30°C both day and night!”
Money
One of the big differences is that tipping is expected in restaurants and bars in the United States, and 18–20% is standard.
When shopping, the advertised price is never the final price you pay at the checkout. That’s because individual states and local municipalities levy a Sales Tax that is added to the price at the till.
The Massachusetts statewide sales tax rate is 6.25%.
Meanwhile, the combined sales tax rate in Miami-Dade County is 7%. This is calculated by adding Florida’s state sales tax of 6% to the county’s discretionary surtax of 1%.
Apple Pay and Google Pay work almost everywhere, but you will face fees for withdrawing cash from ATMs so consider using a travel card such as Monzo or Revolut.
Can I drink on the street?
In Massachusetts, there is no blanket statewide law prohibiting public drinking, but it is effectively illegal because most cities and towns have strict local bylaws banning open containers in public places like streets, sidewalks, and parks.
You can buy alcohol at licensed package stores across the state, as well as at approved grocery stores, convenience stores, and wholesale clubs.
You generally cannot drink or possess open containers of alcohol in public in Florida. State law prohibits public consumption on streets, sidewalks, and in parks, but local municipalities set specific enforcement and designated areas.
In Florida, you can buy beer and wine at most supermarkets and convenience stores, but liquor (spirits) must be purchased at dedicated liquor stores.
What if I’m staying home in Scotland?
Then STV has you covered, with Scotland’s World Cup journey being covered across all platforms throughout the duration of the tournament.
A total of 29 live group stage matches will air on STV and STV Player throughout the month, including Scotland v Morocco on June 19.
Following every step of the group stage journey on the ground in the US will be STV News presenters Raman Bhardwaj, Ronnie Charters and Chris Harvey, with regular daily updates.
Highlights of every World Cup game will be available to stream ad-free on the STV Player soon after each match has concluded.
STV NewsRonnie will be joined by The STV Radio Football Show’s Callum Bell for six special episodes of the hit visual podcast airing throughout the group stages, with co-host Ewen Cameron joining the lads from STV HQ in Glasgow. The podcast episodes will drop before and after each of Scotland’s matches and will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and STV Player.
Ewen’s STV Radio breakfast show co-host Cat Harvey will be joining the Tartan Army in the US to capture the excitement of the most passionate fans on earth, with updates on Ewen and Cat at Breakfast and across other STV Radio shows. The station will also air dedicated hourly World Cup bulletins to keep listeners up to date with all the latest tournament news.
Plus, STV Radio will play all the biggest Scotland anthems throughout the month to celebrate the national team’s historic return to the tournament – with many personally selected by famous Scots.
Scotland’s opening match against Haiti on June 14 and final group match against Brazil on June 24 will both be broadcast on BBC Scotland.
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