"Not a score, but a gift that's both tangible, emotional and we hope outlasts us all." That's how Providence Tartan Army member Ian Cox summed up what Scotland's fans have done in Rhode Island — and it's a harder line to argue with than anything that'll happen at Boston Stadium on Friday.
On the eve of Scotland's Group Stage match against Morocco, hundreds of Tartan Army supporters gathered at the outdoor garden of Hasbro Children's Hospital to hand over $10,000 toward expanding access to cancer and blood disorder care for children and young adults. The ceremony came complete with bagpipers, drummers, and a 100-person march through the hospital grounds. Classic Tartan Army.
Where the money came from — and where it's going
Cox was clear this wasn't a committee decision. It came from thousands of ordinary Scotland supporters who collectively decided their time in Providence meant more than 90 minutes of football. Dr. Salley Pels, interim director of Pediatric Hematology Oncology at Hasbro, confirmed the funds will go toward personalized care and support services for young cancer patients.
The donation didn't stop there. A framed T-shirt bearing the names of nearly every contributor was presented to the hospital. Then 5-year-old Ruby — daughter of a Tartan Army member — handed over a box of toys, including yellow school buses, the now-iconic vehicles the Army uses to travel from Providence to Boston on matchdays. Ruby gave them to Jasper Casey, Hasbro Children's 2026 Champion Child. Try finding a better image from this entire World Cup.
The $10,000 brings the Tartan Army's total New England donations to over $30,000. The group has also given $6,500 each to the Rhode Island Highlanders Pipe Band and Craig Ferguson — the Scottish fan who walked from Los Angeles to Boston for mental health fundraising — plus another $10,000 to a grassroots Rhode Island soccer program for underprivileged kids.
Scotland still need points, though
None of this changes what's coming on the pitch. Scotland picked up three points against Haiti on June 13, but Morocco and Brazil await. The margins for advancing out of this group are thin, and the odds reflect that. A side that's been generous off the field will need to be ruthless on it.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley welcomed the Tartan Army back anytime. After 10 days and $30,000, it's hard to imagine they'd turn down the invitation.
