SFA in talks with Massachusetts officials over biannual friendly in Boston
On 12 November 2026 the Scottish Football Association entered talks with Massachusetts officials about staging a biannual friendly match in Boston, following Scotland's two World Cup matches in the city during the summer. The discussions are intended to build on the connections formed between local residents and the Tartan Army during that period.
Massachusetts has moved formally to strengthen links after an estimated 25,000 Scotland supporters partied in Boston and surrounding areas, and a bill aimed at deepening ties has been passed in the state. US state senator Paul Feeney was in the UK this week for talks around energy and travelled to Scotland to follow up on the relationships formed in June. Scotland fans placed cones on several Boston statues during their time in the city. It has not yet been decided who will play in the proposed fixture but BBC Scotland understands it will involve the Scotland national team.
The SFA is in active discussions aimed at a biannual friendly being held in Boston, with talks to organise a regular fixture described as at an early stage. Separately, the association is in advanced negotiations with businesses in Massachusetts about potential investment in the Scottish game.
More discussions are due to take place between the SFA and a delegation of state senators ahead of Scotland's Nations League match against North Macedonia at Hampden on Friday. Details of the proposed match participants and exact format have not been finalised.
Feeney said: "We felt that this summer was more than just a football match, more than just, you know, 90 minutes at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. It was a couple of weeks of these relationships being held, and you don't see that often. And I'm glad we got to experience it. And, frankly, we don't want that to end." He added: "One of the things that we've been active on in Massachusetts today is to kind of take the lessons that we've learned, put together the best practices, and say, ok, we understand that we can't have a World Cup every year, but where we have such a strong connection with people in Scotland, could we do some sort of invitational tournament? To have that cultural exchange to kind of prop up economic development, and more than that, just to come together, have a few drinks, and enjoy each other's company."
Feeney said the Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to support the concept and added: "We're trying to work that through the legislature, get it to the finish." Massachusetts Senate president Karen Spilka told BBC Scotland: "The Tartan Army invaded Massachusetts and I have to say they lit a spark that set off fireworks. They were sorely missed by so many people when they left. I think that by making the effort to come here and meet people and talk about tourism and economic development, we can start talking about things like Tartan Day and maybe having other events going on."
Further meetings between the SFA and the Massachusetts delegation are scheduled to take place ahead of Scotland's Nations League fixture with North Macedonia at Hampden on Friday, when officials hope to progress the concept for a recurring Boston friendly.
