Morning Sports Update

Even if they missed Scotland's "Boston Stadium" win on Saturday, longtime Red Sox fans probably learned who John McGinn was on Sunday night through song.

By Hayden Bird

June 15, 2026 | 11:04 AM

3 minutes to read

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Scotland fans discover baseball at Fenway Park: In their ongoing joyous and jovial occupation of Boston, Scotland’s “Tartan Army” took to Fenway Park on Sunday.

In a specifically themed “Scottish Celebration” night, the Red Sox hosted Scottish fans who are in town for the World Cup. It began with a march from Evans Way Park to Lansdowne, with thousands of Scots led by a bagpipe band.

Many were excited to check out the iconic ballpark, even if they weren’t experts in the rules of baseball.

Once inside Fenway Park, the Scots were in full voice. As was the case during the 1-0 win over Haiti at “Boston Stadium” (Gillette Stadium) on Saturday in their World Cup opener, the fans sang loud and made a vivid impression on their American hosts.

Even when the Red Sox lost, the local Scots still won, as was the case when a young fan in Scottish kit caught a Rangers home run ball hit into the Green Monster seats.

And long after the game was over, fans were still singing their hearts out.

Chances are that even the most diehard baseball fans — some of whom may have never watched soccer before — now at least know who Scottish midfielder John McGinn is due to the song (especially after he scored the winner against Haiti).

Trivia: What three-time MLB All-Star (who briefly played for the Red Sox in his final season in 1960) was born in Glasgow, Scotland?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: “Shot heard ’round the world.”

Scores and schedules:

The Red Sox lost to the Rangers 6-4 on Sunday. Boston begins a three-game series against the Blue Jays tonight at Fenway Park, with first pitch set for 6:45 p.m.

The World Cup also continues in full swing today:

• Spain vs. Cape Verde at 12 p.m.
• Belgium vs. Egypt at 3 p.m.
• Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay at 6 p.m.
• Iran vs. New Zealand at 9 p.m.

And in case you missed it from the weekend: The New York Knicks won the NBA title for the first time since 1973, defeating the Spurs in five games (4-1).

More from Boston.com:

• No, Jayson Tatum should not be traded … but he needs to be more of an initiator offensively
• 5 takeaways from Scotland’s 1-0 win over Haiti in front of a packed crowd at ‘Boston Stadium’
• A wild night in Foxborough shows Boston is ready to embrace magic of World Cup
• Scotland felt the love in Boston before, during, and after opening World Cup win
• Photos: What ‘Boston Stadium’ looked like as Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in the World Cup
• Massport officially breaks world record for largest soccer ball
• World Cup traffic creates long lines but stays organized, easing citywide fears
• The best videos of Scottish, Haitian fans taking over Boston for World Cup
• Jalen Brunson scores 45, and Knicks top Spurs for NBA title

If you only watch one more video today: The power of the World Cup, quite simply, was that it brought this to Gillette Stadium.

A moment for Curaçao: The smallest nation to ever reach a World Cup got to enjoy at least one beautiful moment on the field, scoring a dramatic equalizer against Germany in the first half before falling 7-1 in their opener.

France seem relaxed: The locally-based French national team has patiently waited to make their World Cup debut (which will happen on Tuesday in New Jersey against Senegal at 3 p.m.), but Kylian Mbappe doesn’t seem stressed, nailing an impromptu jump shot after training on Sunday.

On this day: Half a century ago in 1976, the Red Sox initially shook the baseball world with the announcement that the team had bought the contracts of Oakland Athletics All-Stars Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers for $1 million each (one of the most expensive player transactions in baseball history at that point).

Three days later, MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn famously voided the deals (as well as others made in that time by Athletics owner Charles Finley) for being “inconsistent with the best interests of baseball, the integrity of the game and the maintenance of public confidence in it.”

Finley sued, but eventually lost the case (long after the voided deal was even relevant).

Daily highlight: Sweden midfielder Yasin Ayari scored a tremendous opening goal in an eventual 5-1 win on Sunday in the World Cup. Ayari’s celebration was intentionally toned down out of respect for the fact that his father is Tunisian. He later added a second goal, also via a shot from outside the box.

Trivia answer: Bobby Thomson