Andy Lachlan Enters Boston Pub for England-Croatia Match After Tartan Army Drains Lager

Q: While Boston toasts the Tartan Army, why does a 'visa wall' block other World Cup fans from the U.S.?

Boston’s embrace of Scotland’s Tartan Army highlights a sharp imbalance: fans from visa-waiver countries can arrive easily, while many supporters from Africa, the Middle East and parts of the Caribbean face a far harder path because of U.S. entry rules. Scottish fans benefit from relatively straightforward travel arrangements. By contrast, many World Cup supporters must apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, pay about $185, attend an in-person interview and prove they will return home and can fund the trip. For countries without U.S. visa-waiver access, that process is costly, slow and uncertain. State Department data has shown refusal rates above 40% for citizens of 11 qualified countries, with some even higher. The barriers are steeper for fans from places affected by suspended consular services, tighter restrictions or broader security screening. Some applicants cannot even complete interviews in their home country. Others face long waits in third countries, only to be turned away. Even approved travelers are not guaranteed entry, because U.S. border officers make the final decision on arrival. That is why the “visa wall” feels so stark during a tournament meant to be global. Boston can warmly celebrate the Tartan Army’s songs, spending and goodwill, but many equally passionate fans from Morocco, Iran, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Haiti and elsewhere may never get the chance to join them. FIFA has acknowledged the problem, but entry policy remains in U.S. government hands.

2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 19

3 p.m. Wednesday, Andy Lachlan — sporting a bruise on his left eye — walked into Hennessy’s on Boston’s Union Street to watch England play Croatia.
Hennessy’s had become a hub for Scotland’s Tartan Army, whose kilts, sing-alongs and heavy drinking fueled rumors they had emptied the pub’s beer supply on Sunday night.
The shortage was narrower than the gossip suggested: lager, ale and Guinness were gone, while American IPA was still available.
Boston locals embraced the visiting fans, with one Red Sox supporter calling the Scots "the friendliest people on the planet" after sharing a Sam Adams with a Tartan Army traveler.

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Andy Lachlan Enters Boston Pub to Watch England-Croatia Match

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Scottish fans celebrating their team’s World Cup return drank a Samuel Adams taproom dry in Boston according to reports. , ABC News’ Jaclyn Lee has more. | ABC News | Facebook

Beyond record beer sales, how will the new Boston-Glasgow alliance leverage the World Cup's cultural and economic legacy?

While Boston toasts the Tartan Army, why does a 'visa wall' block other World Cup fans from the U.S.?

Andy Lachlan Enters Boston Pub for England-Croatia Match After Tartan Army Drains Lager

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