BOSTON — If you were walking through Dorchester last week, you saw them: Scots draped in saltires, belting out “Flower of Scotland” outside a pub on Dot Ave. Locals joined in. Cops posed for selfies. The whole city fell for the plaid invasion.
Now it’s England’s turn. The Three Lions roll into town for a World Cup knockout match, and suddenly the question everyone’s asking isn’t about formations or set pieces. It’s: Can England fans be as lovable as Scotland’s?
Let’s be honest. That’s a high bar.
The Tartan Charm Offensive
Scotland’s supporters didn’t just win their match on the pitch — they won the city. They poured into Irish pubs, bought rounds for strangers, and handed out shortbread to bemused T riders. At the pre-match parade, a kilted piper led a crowd of thousands down Boylston Street, and even the most hardened Red Sox fan had to smile.
“They were brilliant,” said Mike O’Malley, a bartender at The Banshee. “We had Scotland fans in here singing with everyone. No fights, no trouble. Just good craic.”
And the locals responded. By the time Scotland’s anthem echoed through the stadium, the crowd included a fair number of Bostonians wearing borrowed kilts. They didn’t just tolerate the Scots — they adopted them.
But England fans face a different challenge. The reputation precedes them. Loud. Aggressive. Sometimes worse. In 2021, English supporters were blamed for chaos at Wembley during the Euro final. In 2024, a group in Cologne sparked clashes that made global headlines. Stereotypes stick — and in a city that still remembers the Boston Tea Party, English swagger doesn’t always land well.
A Different Kind of Fan
To be fair, the England supporters arriving here aren’t the same ones who trashed hotel lobbies in Frankfurt. These are families. Season-ticket holders. Fans who spent their savings to watch their team play in a country that mostly calls soccer “football.”
“I’ve been to three World Cups,” said Dave Clarke, a 52-year-old from Manchester, nursing a pint at the Four’s in Quincy Market. “The stereotype gets old. We’re here to enjoy the football and see America. We’re not hooligans.”
But perception is stubborn. On social media, Boston locals have already started warning each other: “Don’t let them drink the Harbor dry.” “Keep an eye on the Liberty Bell.” The jokes are tired, but they hint at real anxiety.
Scotland didn’t just win the match — they won the city.
City officials say they’re ready. Extra police will patrol fan zones. Bars near the stadium have been told to cut off overserved customers early. But no one can legislate charm. And charm is what England needs.
“Scotland set a high bar,” says Dr. Helen Grant, a sports psychologist at Northeastern University. “They had the advantage of being underdogs. People love an underdog. England is expected to win — and that creates a different dynamic.”
That dynamic is already showing. England fans online have been defensive, pointing out that Scotland’s pitch invasion last week was actually a rare bright spot. “They were good,” one fan wrote. “But we can be good too.”
The Underdog Factor
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the English accent. In Boston, it can trigger instant suspicion — especially if you’re wearing a St. George’s Cross. The city’s Irish heritage runs deep, and some locals still associate Englishness with occupation, not sports.
“I had a guy tell me he wouldn’t serve me because my shirt said ‘England,’” said James Turner, 28, from Leeds. “I said, ‘Mate, it’s just football.’ He wasn’t having it.”
Meanwhile, Scotland’s fans traded on their “Braveheart” image — plucky, passionate, and a bit drunk. They leaned into the stereotype. England, by contrast, has to fight against one.
But there’s a path forward. Humility helps. A few English fans have already been spotted learning basic phrases in Boston accents. “Pahk the cah” jokes go a long way. So does buying a round for strangers. And it helps that the team itself is easy to like — with players like Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, who actually smile during games.
“I think people will warm up,” says O’Malley. “Give it a day. Once they start singing Sweet Caroline — well, everyone loves Neil Diamond.”
Can They Do It?
Scotland won the charm war by being underdogs. England needs to win by being human. That means apologizing when they bump into someone on the T. It means laughing at themselves when they can’t find a pub that serves proper ale. It means not acting like they own the place.
So far, the signs are mixed. Some fans have already complained about the price of beer ($12 for a Bud Light). Others have praised the city’s energy. The real test comes tonight, when thousands pack the Fanzone at City Hall Plaza.
If England wins on the pitch — and loses in the stands — they’ll have failed the test Scotland passed with flying colors. But if they can match the Scots’ warmth, Boston might just have a new favorite team. For now, the city is watching. And waiting.
“We’ll see,” says O’Malley. “But honestly? I’m rooting for them. We all are. We just need them to be cool.”
