251013 Alexander Isak of Sweden ahead of the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifier football match between Sweden and Kosovo on October 13, 2025 in Gothenburg. Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRAN / kod JM / JM0741 bbeng fotboll football soccer fotball vm-kval kval fifa world cup qualifier qualifier qualification sverige sweden sverige a kosovo *** 251013 Alexander Isak of Sweden ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier football match between Sweden and Kosovo on October 13, 2025 in Gothenburg Photo Joel Marklund BILDBYRAN kod JM JM0741 bbeng fotboll football soccer fotball vm kval kval fifa world cup qualifier qualifier qualification sverige sweden sverige a kosovo PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: JOELxMARKLUND BB251013JM181
Boston has become an unlikely meeting point for thousands of Scotland and England supporters during the 2026 World Cup group stage.
Tens of thousands of Scots have been based in the city since Scotland’s 1-0 victory against Haiti at the Gillette Stadium earlier in the tournament.
England fans began arriving in significant numbers ahead of their match against Ghana, scheduled to take place in Boston on Tuesday.
Despite the historic rivalry between the two sets of supporters, the mood across the city has remained good-natured and relaxed throughout the day.
There was some friendly booing as fans in England shirts passed Hennessey’s Bar on Union Street, but the exchanges remained firmly light-hearted.
At 4pm local time, when England’s match against Croatia kicked off, supporters from both nations packed into the large fan zone at the city hall.
Some kilted Scots were even wearing Croatia tops, and jubilant cheers rang out when Harry Kane’s early penalty was saved by the Croatian goalkeeper.
The celebration was short-lived, however, as the referee ordered the spot kick to be retaken, with Kane this time finding the back of the net.
Scotland fans cheered again as Martin Baturina levelled the scoring, before Kane headed England back into the lead, and Peter Musa then netted for Croatia right on the stroke of half time.
During the break, both sets of supporters came together to belt out a rendition of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline in one of the more memorable scenes of the afternoon.
Scotland fan Chris McCall, 43, a director from Paisley, watched the game alongside his England-supporting wife Amy, 43, a cafe owner originally from Southampton, the pair having met on holiday 21 years ago.
Chris said: “We travelled over on Friday and we are going to the Morocco game together — and so it was only fair I got dragged out to watch this today.”
He added: “Loads of England fans arrived today but the atmosphere has still been brilliant. Everyone has been getting along.”
Amy said: “It’s been great. There’s more England fans here than I thought there would be. I’ll still be at the match on Friday supporting Scotland, though!”
Elsewhere in the city, Scotland fans were spotted chatting with an England-supporting father and his young son, with the group sharing a high-five and a laugh before going their separate ways.
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