A blue wave has crashed into the United States.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Scottish fans — returning after 28 years due to a strong qualifying campaign — are arriving in large numbers on the East Coast. Flight bookings from the UK to host cities like Boston and Miami have surged by approximately 1,000% during the World Cup period.
While this includes fans from across the UK, the majority of the increase is attributed to Scotland, according to airfare comparison site FlightsFinder.
‘Party central’ atmosphere in Boston
“All flights were filled with Scotland fans,” says John Finnigan, a Scottish fan who traveled from Edinburgh.
He reported seeing “thousands” of them around Boston, noting the atmosphere is “top class. Party central.”
Finnigan also participated in the 1998 World Cup in France. This time, he brought his son, Joe, to the US.
Scotland’s first match was a tight 1-0 victory against Haiti. With upcoming games against Morocco and Brazil, can the Tartan Army’s support secure their progress to the knockout stages?
Finnigan is optimistic. “The next two games are challenging, but one draw should keep us in the competition,” he stated.
German fans are also traveling in significant numbers, with bookings doubling (+100%) compared to last year, as per FlightsFinder. They are spread across Toronto, Canada, New Jersey, and Houston.
The Germans are known for their organization and efficiency, which seems to have contributed to this trend. The data shows they booked their US flights earliest, averaging 138 days before the group stage.
Their performance so far is evident, as the Mannschaft started with a strong 7-1 win over Curaçao, which made its World Cup debut this year.
Turkish fans have also made a notable impact in California (+85%), according to FlightsFinder. Portuguese supporters have crossed the Atlantic in substantial numbers (+45%), alongside French fans (+30%) hoping for a third consecutive World Cup final.
Non-European fans are also showing interest, particularly from Morocco. Royal Air Maroc added 8,800 extra seats to meet demand between June 13-27.
This reflects Morocco’s peak in football history, following a fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup and an Africa Cup of Nations final. The upcoming draw against Brazil is further boosting enthusiasm for the Lions of the Atlas.
Conversely, Spain and Switzerland are experiencing declines. Spain saw a -26% drop in bookings, as fans prefer hosting events domestically and have set up large fan zones in their home country. Rising flight prices have also discouraged travel.
“This, combined with high flight costs, has led most to stay home,” FlightsFinder noted.
Switzerland also recorded a 3% decline in bookings to World Cup cities.
