England fans face a friendly challenge after Scotland’s Boston takeover

England supporters are arriving in Boston after Scotland fans left a notably positive impression on the city. Local venues, civic figures and baseball officials credited the Tartan Army with bringing energy, good humour and strong business during Scotland’s World Cup stay.

The response went beyond pub takings. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signed a letter of intent linking Boston and Glasgow as sister cities, while the Boston Globe and Red Sox president Sam Kennedy both publicly acknowledged the atmosphere created by Scotland supporters, including at Fenway Park.

England’s following is reported to be in the 10,000 to 15,000 range before the Ghana match, though that figure remains an estimate. Local voices quoted in the source suggest England may receive a slightly different reception, partly because Scotland were seen as underdogs and partly because their support became unusually visible across the city.

There are encouraging signs for organisers and hosts: the UK Football Policing Unit confirmed to BBC Sport that no British individuals had been arrested in Boston as of Tuesday morning. The wider question now is whether England fans can create a similarly positive memory without simply trying to copy what Scotland’s travelling support achieved.