‘Scotland’s energy is second to none’: The Tartan Army takes over Little Havana

After drinking Boston dry and taking over Fenway Park, the Tartan Army has landed in South Florida ahead of Scotland’s match against Brazil on Wednesday.

Where is the next stop for this legion of diehard fans of Scotland’s World Cup team? The iconic Ball & Chain bar in the heart of Calle Ocho.

Fans withstood over 90-degree heat in Miami as they continued what seems to be a multi-day World Cup bender. Dressed in plaid kilts and striped jerseys, the Scottish fans took to Calle Ocho restaurants, bars and even ventanitas to sip beers, cafecitos and mojitos on Monday ahead of a march to the Miami Marlins vs. Texas Rangers game, where the Tartan Army bought 8,000 seats.

As they explored what Calle Ocho has to offer, Scottish fans danced to salsa music blasting on speakers and belted out Scottish songs while locals joined in.

Alan Wilson, 54, and his son Connor, 18, knew they had to travel to Miami after watching the Tartan Army party in Boston. An Orlando resident from Scotland, Wilson wanted to be a part of the curated Scottish vibe, he said.

“I want to see my fellow Scots take on the chickens everywhere,” Wilson said.

Luis Parilla, 31, wanted to see what was up with Scottish fans when he heard they were marching down Calle Ocho.

“We walked over and they were already singing,” Parilla said.

The excitement feels contagious, he added, waiting in line behind Tartan Army members as they ordered beers.

“Miami is a melting pot as it is,” he said. “I hope the natives are welcoming.”

For some Scottish fans, Miami feels like a literal melting pot. Alan Rutherford, 54, tucked away in the shade to escape the heat. While it’s easy to get around, he said, it’s way hotter than he’s accustomed to.

He began his World Cup tour in Canada, then ended up in Boston. Boston felt small and tightly-knit, but Miami is a huge land of opportunity for fans eager to explore.

“I have spent a lot of money on Uber,” Rutherford said. “We had Cuban last night for food.”

Warren Heath, 56, has been enjoying his first time in Miami. Despite the sweltering heat and expensive costs, he’s been sipping beers while waiting for the march to begin.

“We’ll just be singing, and drinking beer and whiskey,” Heath said. “Scotland’s energy is second to none.”

He also traveled to Boston with the Tartan Army, where the temperature has been the biggest difference.

“Everyone has been very welcoming, hospitable,” he said. “We only got here last night.”

He plans to go to the FIFA Fan Fest, where he hopes for either a Scottish victory over Brazil or not too bad of a loss.

Barbara Wach, 65, has lived in Miami since her early 20s. A member of the St. Andrews Bagpipe Band, they joined the party with bagpipes at the ready to lead the parade down to loanDepot Park.

Her band played at the FIFA Fan Festival during the weekend, where they were met with a swarm of Scottish fans and Miami locals. Even fans of Brazil’s team offered a warm welcome to the Scottish, where they cheered and danced together as they arrived.

Inside the iconic Cuban bar turned Scottish hotspot, the Tartan Army hollered as dancers dressed in green and yellow feather headdresses danced on top of the Ball & Chain bar. As confetti exploded, fans with orange traffic cone hats cheered as reggaeton music blended with bagpipes.

David McColl, 50, was amazed by Calle Ocho when he first arrived for the march. He’s already visited South Beach and looks forward to the parade scheduled tomorrow on Ocean Drive and cheering on Scotland from Bayfront Park.

While he couldn’t score World Cup tickets, he’s attending the Marlins game.

“The Tartan Army is phenomenal,” McColl said. “The atmosphere, the energy we bring, it’s something else.”