Scotland’s traveling support has turned a string of American ballparks into the noisiest tickets in town over the past fortnight.
The Tartan Army reached Miami this week ahead of the national team’s final World Cup group game against Brazil, and the party began long before the players take the field on Wednesday.
Their latest stop was loanDepot Park on Monday night, where the Miami Marlins hosted the Texas Rangers in front of a crowd of kilts and bagpipes — and a familiar Scotland face was handed the ceremonial first pitch.
Billy Gilmour, the Napoli midfielder ruled out of the tournament through injury, did the honors before first pitch.
Billy Gilmour gets involved in MLB action in Miami
Gilmour was cruelly forced out of Scotland’s squad after picking up a knee injury in the final warm-up game against Curaçao. Rather than head home, he has stayed close to the action, following the team from Boston down to Miami.
On Monday, he traded the sidelines for the pitcher’s mound, getting the night started as thousands of Scotland supporters filled the stands.
The trip has not come cheap for the fanbase, with some revealing the five-figure sums fans have spent to follow Scotland across the United States.
The evening carried a distinctly Scottish flavor. Singer Nick Morgan, who released “No Scotland, No Party” before Euro 2024, performed before the game, while bagpipers marched across the outfield. The first 250 members of the group through the gates were handed a voucher for a free beer.
On the field, the Marlins fell 4-3 to the Rangers in front of 20,000 fans — one of their bigger crowds of the season.
Gilmour will not get his World Cup on the pitch, but a ceremonial first pitch in Miami is not a bad way to spend a Monday night while the rest of the squad prepares for Brazil.
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