Scotland and Massachusetts Talk Up a Regular Boston Fixture
Scotland could be playing in Boston again. The Scottish Football Association (SFA), which runs the national teams, is in active discussions about a regular friendly match in the American city, according to BBC Scotland.
The idea has grown out of the summer. Scotland played two World Cup matches in Boston, and an estimated 25,000 Scotland fans partied in the city and surrounding areas in June. Scotland's supporters are known as the Tartan Army, and their noise and good humour left a mark on the place. The SFA and the state of Massachusetts now want to build on those links through football.
The state has moved quickly. The Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to back the concept of an invitational tournament built on the Scotland connection. An invitational tournament is a competition where organisers pick the teams rather than qualifying for it. The state has also passed a bill aimed at strengthening its ties with Scotland.
Massachusetts state senator Paul Feeney was in the UK this week for talks on energy. Further discussions are due between the SFA and a delegation of Massachusetts state senators before Scotland's Nations League match against North Macedonia at Hampden on Friday. The Nations League is a competition between national teams in Europe, played in autumn and spring rather than at major tournaments.
Nothing is settled yet. Talks aimed at setting up a regular Scotland-related fixture in Massachusetts are at an early stage. BBC Scotland understands that any Boston game would involve the Scotland national team, but the participants have not been decided. That means it is not yet clear whether the senior side, a younger squad or another group would travel.
For fans, the appeal is easy to see. Many Scots who made the trip in June formed friendships with locals, and a return match would give them a reason to go back. Scotland's men have not always had much to celebrate in recent tournaments, so a home-style game abroad with a full stadium and a noisy crowd would be a welcome change. The talks are about more than the football, too. Both sides want the links to last beyond a single summer.
Whether the plans take shape will depend on the SFA's own calendar, the cost of travel and the schedules of the players. Those are the questions the coming talks will need to answer. For now, the Tartan Army has a new thing to look forward to, and it is still a long way from the Hampden terraces.
