Scotland Fans Will Back the Patriots in Munich

Hundreds of Scotland soccer supporters are preparing to attend the New England Patriots’ game against the Detroit Lions in Munich on November 15, despite little familiarity with American football. Tartan Army organizer Mike Teevan said the group plans to cheer for the Patriots because of its connection with the Boston region.

The fans became a local sensation during the World Cup in June, when Scotland played at Gillette Stadium, temporarily called Boston Stadium for the tournament. To avoid costly public transit, supporters hired yellow school buses to reach the match, bringing thousands of cases of beer. Their arrival also drew attention to Boston bars, some of which ran out of drinks.

After the tournament ended in July, Gillette Stadium offered free tickets to about 20 Tartan Army members for the Munich game. Organizers later arranged an entire section at Allianz Arena after learning Scotland’s national team would play in Switzerland the following day. Teevan said up to 300 supporters may attend.

The visit comes amid Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s reported interest in bringing an NFL game to Scotland. Whether the Munich outing will attract new fans remains uncertain: Teevan said there is generally little interest in the NFL among the group, though supporters welcome a chance to gather and have a beer.