The first World Cup men’s soccer match at Gillette Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, kicking off a series of games that will bring international attention to the Boston area.
A city transformed by soccer fever
Fans from both Scotland and Haiti have traveled in large numbers, turning the city into a patchwork of flags, chants and camaraderie as the Tartan Army and Haitian supporters alike fill the streets with energy.
Globe photographers have captured the excitement along the Boston Harbor, where a cruise filled with Tartan Army members set sail, and at Hennessy’s Bar, where Scottish supporters led songs while wearing construction‑cone caps.
In City Hall Plaza, a massive outdoor screen will broadcast the Canada‑Bosnia and Herzegovina match, drawing crowds that include families, tourists and local residents eager to experience the global festival.
Organizers have replaced the stadium’s synthetic surface with natural grass ahead of the game, underscoring a commitment to tradition as the tournament progresses, while fans wave signs and cheer outside the Marriott Boston Quincy awaiting Haiti’s national team.