BOSTON has announced it has officially closed its fan zones just one week after the Tartan Army left and despite still having more World Cup matches left to be played in the city.
In a decision that goes against Fifa's requirements as a host city, Boston's leaders have confirmed the Fifa Fan Festival has been closed despite having two more World Cup matches left to be played.
Fifa mandates that host cities of the World Cup must organise and run fan festivals, also known as fan zones, for every single match of the tournament.
Germany and Paraguay are still to play their knockout game on Monday at the Boston Stadium, with a quarter-final match also still scheduled to take place on July 9.
The decision comes after thousands of Scots made the trip to Boston and the surrounding areas in Massachusetts to cheer on Scotland in the men's team's first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
The Tartan Army’s antics and good spirits were widely praised by local and international media alike as a budding friendship between Boston and Scotland grew throughout the weeks the city hosted the tournament.
A new law that allowed more than 140 bars and restaurants in Boston to stay open later and for fans to carry and drink alcohol along certain streets, hailed as the “Tartan Army Bill”, was even passed days after the first Scots landed in the city.
A statement from the city read: “Throughout the Group Stage matches, fans from around the world came together in the heart of Boston to celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2026, proving once again that the beautiful game has the power to unite people across cultures, languages, and borders.”
The statement added: “We would like to thank everyone for bringing the energy and passion. It was all we had hoped for and so much more.
“The tournament continues. If you are looking for more ways to experience FIFA World Cup 2026 across Greater Boston and Massachusetts be sure to visit the websites of City of Boston, Meet Boston and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism for details of watch parties and other fan experiences.
“This chapter may be over, but the FIFA World Cup 2026 journey isn’t!”
The Tartan Army’s celebrations became one of the defining stories of this year’s World Cup as not a traffic cone nor beer keg within the city was safe as Scots decorated statues across the city with cones in the spirit of Glasgow’s Duke of Wellington statue.
Bars and planes carrying the Tartan Army to Boston were drunk dry, with numerous pubs and restaurants in Boston praising Scots for their love for football, partying, and showing respect in their city.
The mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, met with reporters on June 19, where she said she expected to see some “lingering traditions” from Bostonians after the cone trend started in the city.
The mayor then officially made Glasgow and Boston sister cities in a ceremony at The Haven, Boston’s only official Scottish pub, which became one of the city’s leading hubs for the fans.
Wu also praised the Tartan Army for bringing positive energy to the city and for cleaning up after themselves along the way.
“‘No Scotland, no party’ has been absolutely been stuck in my head all the time,” she said.
