The Tartan Army Can Boogie! Scotland fans go crazy and party in style after watching team triumph in Boston in first World Cup win for 36 YEARS - with more celebrations to come ahead of tomorrow's bank holiday

By LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER Published: 10:06, 14 June 2026 | Updated: 10:17, 14 June 2026 Scotland fans have gone crazy and partied in style after watching their team triumph in Boston in their first World Cup win for 36 years. The Tartan Army turned the Massachusetts city into a sea of saltire flags, kilts and booming choruses of Flower of Scotland as Steve Clarke's men finally gave their long-suffering supporters a night to remember with a tense but priceless 1-0 victory over Haiti. After decades of heartache and near misses, thousands of Scots packed into Boston Stadium before spilling into bars, fan zones and the city's streets long after the final whistle, belting out renditions of 'No Scotland, No Party' and dancing on tables as celebrations stretched deep into the night. And with a bank holiday looming tomorrow, there appeared little chance of anyone heading home early. John McGinn etched his name into Scottish football folklore when he scored the only goal of the game in the 28th minute, becoming the first Scotland player to find the net at a World Cup since Craig Burley's strike against Norway in 1998. It was enough to secure Scotland's first victory at football's biggest tournament since beating Sweden at Italia '90, ending a 36-year wait and sending supporters into scenes of unbridled joy on both sides of the Atlantic. Even Sir Rod Stewart was there to witness history. The music legend, a lifelong football fanatic and devoted Scotland supporter, watched from the stands alongside two of his sons as the Tartan Army roared their team on.  Scotland fans have gone crazy and partied in style after watching their team triumph in Boston in their first World Cup win for 36 years  Sir Rod Stewart, a lifelong football fanatic and devoted Scotland supporter, watched from the stands alongside two of his sons The Tartan Army turned the Massachusetts city into a sea of saltire flags, kilts and booming choruses of Flower of Scotland  Stewart had shared his excitement ahead of the match and was all smiles as Scotland finally ended their World Cup hoodoo.  Boston has now been transformed into what many supporters jokingly described as a suburb of Glasgow or Edinburgh over recent days. The stands and streets have been filled with thousands of Scottish voices rising in unison, while bagpipes echoed through fan parks and city squares. Such has been their infectious spirit that even local police officers joined in the festivities, with one officer delighting supporters by showing off his keepy-up skills to a cheering crowd. As videos of the Tartan Army belting out Yes Sir, I Can Boogie by Spanish duo Baccara littered social media.  The song, released in 1977, became the unofficial anthem of Scotland after a video of players dancing to the tune went viral after the team qualified for the Euros in 2020. Scotland's opening match came with added pressure against Haiti, the lowest-ranked side in Group C, with victory viewed as vital ahead of looming clashes against five-time winners Brazil and Morocco. Fans in the stadium rose to the occasion with a spine-tingling rendition of Flower of Scotland as the respective national anthems were played before kick-off. The opening stages saw chances for both sides, with Scotland going closest when talisman Scott McTominay rattled the post with a fierce effort from the edge of the area. Underdogs Haiti had opportunities of their own early on to increase nerves among Scotland supporters, who had travelled in their thousands hoping to witness a moment they had waited decades to see. Those nerves were finally dispelled and transformed into euphoria when McGinn struck. Scotland's Grant Hanley with his family following the FIFA World Cup Group C match at the Boston Stadium Scotland fans embraced their return to the World Cup stage both in Boston and back home The Tartan Army's presence was felt at the Boston Stadium ahead of the tie with Haiti Fans partied back home after the final whistle sounded at nearly 4am back in Scotland Fresh from a stunning season with Aston Villa, the midfielder bundled home after Che Adams had seen an effort saved, with the ball taking a deflection off a Haitian defender before nestling in the back of the net. As the ball crossed the line, beers were launched skywards, strangers embraced and grown men were left wiping tears from their eyes. The celebrations inside Boston Stadium were mirrored back home. Bleary-eyed supporters draped in Scotland flags and replica shirts hugged one another in pubs and living rooms across the country, having stayed up into the early hours to witness their nation's return to the grandest stage. Scotland dug in, survived and held firm to claim three points that moved them to the top of Group C after Brazil and Morocco played out a draw earlier in the day.  For the Tartan Army, however, the result mattered far more than the performance. Cheering fans streamed out of the stadium after the final whistle, many dancing on tables in nearby fan zones as chants of 'No Scotland, No Party' rang out into the Boston night. Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who was in Boston for the game, said the match was 'seismic' and said he was 'ecstatic' with the score. 'This is a seismic moment for Scotland which could pave the way for the squad to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time,' Swinney said. 'I am absolutely ecstatic and I know people the length and breadth of Scotland will be jubilant and united in joy at this landmark win. Scotland fans celebrated wildly after beating Haiti 1-0 on their return to the FIFA World Cup 'I know I speak for everyone in Scotland when I say we could not be prouder of the team for what they have achieved so far.' Swinney continued: 'It was an honour to be in Boston to witness this historic moment on behalf of the people of Scotland and share it with Tartan Army fans from around the world. 'The fans have once again showcased their famous warmth and openness to the world. The world is watching Scotland, so let's make history.' Before this year, Scotland had not qualified for the men's World Cup since 1998. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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