World Cup

Thousands of Scottish and Haitian soccer fans have taken over Boston over the last week — celebrating with locals, commandeering bars, and making treks down the "Cop Slide".

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FOXBOROUGH — World Cup fever is officially back in Boston.

For the first time since 1994, Foxborough is playing host to World Cup action — with Scotland vs. Haiti on Saturday standing as the first of seven matches to take place at “Boston Stadium” during the anticipated international tournament. 

The excitement is palpable across the globe every four years, and said enthusiasm has especially been evident in Boston over the past week as thousands of Scottish and Haitian fans have held court in the city as they get ready to cheer on their respective countries. 

The Tartan Army have made their presence felt in Boston, with plenty of kilt-wearing fans commandeering bars, watercraft, and the infamous “Cop Slide” over the last few days.

As Scotland and Haiti get ready to play their first World Cup match since 1998 and 1974, respectively, here’s a look at some of the top videos of both Scottish and Haitian fans enjoying Boston:

Scots take over “Cop slide”

It was all but inevitable, wasn’t it?

After several nights of revelry and hijinks, Scottish fans discovered the viral “Cop Slide” at City Hall Plaza, with one fan taking part in the perilous playground gauntlet — while playing the bagpipes.

Boston cop goes viral

Connor Hardy — a sergeant for the Boston Police Department — has made the rounds on social media after he was captured on video juggling a soccer ball with fans during Boston’s Fan Fest at City Hall Plaza. 

“When I went over there, I think they originally thought I was gonna steal the ball and be the fun police,” Hardy, a 14-year veteran of the police force, told The Boston Globe of the interaction with both U.S. and Scottish fans. “I actually just kind of did my thing with them, and it was fun, and it turned out funny.”

Hardy has some experience on the pitch, as he told reporters on Saturday that he played soccer in high school and at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.

“Never something I thought would happen,” Hardy said of his newfound fame. “It’s all good fun though — it’s great, the World Cup here in Boston.”

Those games have headers and volleys have spilled out into the streets of Boston over the last few days.

One if by land, two if by sea

The Scots had their sea legs earlier on Saturday, with hundreds of members of The Tartan Army celebrating on a boat out on Boston Harbor. 

Taking over City Hall Plaza

Fans from several counties were more than happy to join in on the revelry for Team USA’s watch party on Friday at City Hall Plaza — with thousands celebrating amid the U.S.’ convincing win over Paraguay. 

A convoy to Foxborough 

The Tartan army arrived in Foxborough in style — taking several yellow school buses from both Boston and Providence. 

A parade down Boylston

For all of the hoopla over Scottish takeover of several pubs, Haitian fans have also had plenty to celebrate ahead of their country’s first World Cup match in over 50 years. Ahead of kick-off, fans of “Les Grenadiers” held a parade down Boylston Street. 

Fenway Park takeover

Ahead of Saturday’s match, there was a pretty evident influx of kilts and tartan over at Fenway Park for Friday’s game between the Red Sox and Rangers. 

An early wake-up call

Mike Morrison has gone viral after initially posting a video of an AirBnb near his home — with several Scottish fans playing the bagpipes at 6:30 in the morning. Since then, Morrison has become fast friends with his neighbors from across the pond — eventually earning a ticket to Saturday’s game. 

Fans of Argentina

It wasn’t quite the usual blue-and-white found on the Scottish flag, but The Tartan Army was more than happy to lift up one rambunctious Argentina fan on early Friday morning.

It should come as little surprise that Scottish fans are united with Argentinian fans when it comes to their disdain for England — and an affinity for Diego Maradona. 

Coneheads

No statue has been safe in Boston over the last few nights. 

Discovering Boston institutions

Be it soaring down the “Cop Slide” or making the trek through Market Basket, it’s been an eye-opening experience for several Scots now that they’ve arrived in the Commonwealth. 

Out on the town

Be it on the streets of Boston or several pubs, fans of both Scotland and Haiti have been out in full force over the last few days. Here are some other highlights: