The Tartan Army has descended upon Miami like a blue-and-white tidal wave, bringing their trademark energy and passion to the heart of Florida. Thousands of Scottish football fans, clad in their finest kilts and jerseys, took to the streets in a vibrant procession that had locals lining up to join in on the fun.
The lively parade through Little Havana was a sea of colour and sound, with chants of "Super" John McGinn and manager Steve Clarke's name on every lip. The march from the Ball & Chain bar to LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, was met with an overwhelmingly positive reception from the crowd, who sang along to traditional Scottish songs played over the stadium's sound system.
Despite the sweltering Miami heat, the Scots showed no signs of slowing down, donning their signature 'taps aff' look as they made their way to the ballpark. Among them was the Leitch family – Alan, 51, Linn, six-year-old Alfie, and young Alan, 15 – who had joined in at the last minute and were still buzzing from the experience. "The atmosphere here is electric," beamed Mrs Leitch, "and it's not just the Scottish fans who are loving it – the locals are getting into the spirit too."
The Marlins put up a good fight against the Texas Rangers but ultimately fell 4-3 short of victory. Yet even that couldn't dampen the spirits of the Tartan Army, who sang and danced their way through every moment of the match. US nationals were spotted joining in with the chants and traditional Scottish songs, while flags representing towns and cities across Scotland waved proudly throughout the stadium.
For 26-year-old David Chalmers from Edinburgh, it was a day to remember: "Amazing, but bloody hot!" he chuckled. His friend Paul Hefferman, 54, who now calls Louisiana home, concurred, saying he'd soon get used to the Miami heat. And as the Scots departed the stadium, their singing and laughter echoing through the streets, it was clear that the city of Miami would never forget this visit from the Tartan Army.