Could Scotland play in Boston again during the World Cup? The results that could see Tartan Army return
Scotland fans desperate for a return to Boston could be in luck if results go their way
Scotland’s invasion of Boston for this summer’s World Cup has become one of the stories of the tournament, with the Tartan Army praised by commentators, locals, and even the president of baseball giants the Boston Red Sox for bringing “pure joy” to their town in the last fortnight.
However, with their third and final Group C fixture against Brazil forcing fans to leave the city and board trains, planes and buses for Miami, many Bostonians have been pondering when the Scottish fans will return, and if there is any scenario in which Steve Clarke’s side could return to the Gillette Stadium in the latter stages of the tournament?
The good news is, yes - there most certainly is. So, whether you’re hoping to welcome the Tartan Army back to Boston, or a Scotland fan already missing ‘Beantown’ - here’s what needs to happen for Scotland to return to the biggest city in Massachusetts:
What World Cup 2026 fixtures are being played in Boston?
There are four more games set to be played at The Gillette Stadium in Boston.
- Tuesday, June 23 – England vs Ghana - 9pm (Group stage)
- Friday, June 26 – Norway vs France - 8pm (Group stage)
- Monday, June 29 – Round of 32 - Group E Winner (1E) vs 3rd Place Group A/B/C/D/F - 9.30pm
- Thursday, July 9 – Quarter-Final - Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 - 9.30pm
What do Scotland play next at the World Cup 2026?
Scotland next fixture will be against five time champions Brazil. The game will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. The kick-off for the clash is scheduled for 11pm UK time.
Will Scotland play again in Boston during the World Cup?
At present there are no Scotland games scheduled to be played in Boston. However, depending on Scotland’s result against Brazil, and results elsewhere, they could return in the last 32, or quarter-final stages of the tournament. More on that below.
How does qualification to the World Cup last 32 work?
Of the 48 teams involved, 16 will be eliminated at the group stage, which leaves 32 nations. The top two teams in each of the 12 groups will advance to the last 32 automatically, while the third-placed teams will be placed into a league table of sorts.
Of the 12 third-placed teams, only eight will qualify, with the other four eliminated. To determine who qualifies for the round of 32, the 12 nations will be ranked in order of their group stage results. The top eight teams will move on to the next stage of the World Cup, and the bottom four will be eliminated from the tournament.
Should Scotland beat Brazil on Wednesday, they’ll go on to six points and qualify automatically from the group as one of the top two teams on six points. A draw with Brazil - or even a narrow defeat - would make it highly probable they will qualify for the round of 32 as one of the best-placed third-place teams. However, a loss would see a nervous wait for other groups to finish before it is confirmed.
Will Scotland play again in Boston during the World Cup?
Depending on results, there are three scenarios where Scotland could return to Boston and The Gillette Stadium at a later date in the World Cup.
Scenario one:
Boston will host one of the 16 games in the round of 32 at the World Cup. This will take place on Monday, June 29 at 9.30pm UK time. The fixture will see the winner of Group E [Germany] against a third-placed finisher from either Group A, B, C, D, or F - with Scotland currently in third place in Group C.
Advancing as a third-placed team depends on which specific combination of groups produce the top eight third-placed teams. However, according to tournament metrics, the Group C third-place qualifier currently has around a 50% probability of being slotted directly against the Group E winner {Germany]. If the group stage was to end today (June 21), then Scotland would be heading back to Boston to face Germany in the last 32. However, there is still lots of football to be played.To return to Boston, Scotland must first finish as runners-up in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This means they must defeat Brazil in their final group match on Wednesday, 24 June, while Morocco must also simultaneously defeat Haiti on the same night. This would see Morocco win the group on seven points, with Scotland finishing clear in second place with six points, and Brazil is left behind in third.
Should this happen, Scotland would face the winner of Group F [currently the Netherlands] in the last 32 of the tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, on Monday, 29 June. Should this scenario happen AND Scotland beat the Netherlands in the round of 32, they would then qualify for the last 16 and head to Houston, Texas.
Win their last 16 game in Texas, they would head into the quarter-finals of the competition and return to Boston for the game on Thursday, 9 July.
Scenario two:
A second possible return to Boston would involve Scotland finishing as runners-up in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and making it all the way to the quarter finals.
This means they must defeat Brazil in their final group match on Wednesday, 24 June, while Morocco must also simultaneously defeat Haiti on the same night. This would see Morocco win the group on seven points, with Scotland finishing clear in second place with six points, and Brazil is left behind in third.
Should this happen, Scotland would face the winner of Group F [currently the Netherlands] in the last 32 of the tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, on Monday, 29 June. Should this scenario happen AND Scotland beat the Netherlands in the round of 32, they would then qualify for the last 16 and head to Houston, Texas.
Win their last 16 game in Texas, they would head into the quarter-finals of the competition and return to Boston for the game on Thursday, 9 July.
Scotland are aiming to make the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Scenario three:
If you want to think further ahead of really dream hard, then should there is another scenario that would see Scotland return to Boston. Should scenario two take place, and then Scotland go on to beat Germany in the round of 32, then move on to Philadelphia on Saturday, July 4 for the round of 16.
Win that game and make it all the way to the quarter-finals? Then they’d return to Boston on Thursday, July 9 for the last eight.
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