MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – For thousands of die-hard Scottish football supporters, the trip to the 2024 World Cup marked a historic moment: their nation’s first appearance on the sport’s biggest global stage in 26 years. But for the kilt-clad, bagpipe-playing members of the iconic Tartan Army, the first lesson of their South Florida adventure came fast – summer heat in Miami is unlike anything most have ever experienced.
In the days leading up to Scotland’s highly anticipated group stage matchup against Brazil this Wednesday, the faithful took over Miami Gardens’ beachside spots, waterfront bars and public spaces, ready to celebrate their team’s long-awaited return. What greeted them was a mercury peak hitting 93 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius), paired with unforgiving afternoon humidity hovering between 63 and 66 percent.
“Right now in this kilt, I am sweating. Absolutely sweating. It’s crazy heat,” said Hayden Sutherland, one of the thousands of fans who traveled across the Atlantic for the momentous occasion. Sutherland and the Tartan Army have worked their way across the U.S. East Coast ahead of the match, starting with a fan tour stop in Boston before heading south to Florida. While partial cloud cover over the Hard Rock Stadium – home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins – offered a small reprieve from the scorching sun, many fans said the swelter has been nonstop since their tour began.
Ironically, the traveling supporters would not have found much cooler comfort back home. Scotland is currently facing an unseasonable, rare heat wave of its own, with Tuesday temperatures hitting an unexpected high of 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius). Even so, Miami’s combination of heat and thick humidity has proven to be a far greater test.
“I’ve been to warmer places, but the humidity is just killing me,” noted Peter Wright, another traveling Scottish supporter. “Here, I can walk 100 meters and I’ve got a bit of sweat on. In Boston, I was walking miles and it was lovely.”
Nearly all the traveling fans have held fast to beloved tradition, sporting the iconic knee-length Scottish kilt to matches and fan gatherings. Opinions are split on whether the traditional garment helps or hurts in the heat: some fans say the breathable woven fabric offers unexpected relief, while others report the thick material traps heat and adds to their discomfort.
Outside the stadium, fans crowded into whatever shaded spots they could find, fanning themselves with program booklets, hats and any available flat surface. When asked how the group was coping with the extreme conditions, Wayne Sutherland – Hayden’s father – joked with a classic Scottish response: “Just beer. We’re two Scots. No water, just beer.”
That heavy demand for cold beer has already left bars scrambling along the Tartan Army’s tour route. While Miami rolled out the welcome with a dedicated “beer barge” for the traveling supporters, Boston-area bars struggled to keep up as the group of thousands drank through local stock during their earlier stop.
If the heat has dampened the group’s legendary enthusiasm, though, there is no sign of it. Despite Scotland falling to Brazil 3-0 after conceding a goal in just the seventh minute of play, the stands filled with Tartan Army supporters barely sat down for the full 90 minutes. All day long, from pre-game tailgates to the final whistle, the iconic fan chant “No Scotland, No Party” echoed across Miami Gardens – proof that even sweltering heat and a tough loss cannot dim the spirit of the world-famous Scottish fanbase that has waited 26 years for this moment.
This report was contributed by Gracie Fisher, a student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute, as part of Associated Press World Cup coverage.