A mass exodus of Scots soccer fans to the World Cup across the Pond has attracted stand-out worldwide coverage ranging from ESPN to Japanese mainstreaming channels. Wars, ESTA visa foul-ups plus exorbitant match ticket, accommodation and transport mass price hikes cannot deter supporters from rising to the no Scotland no party call and have a good time all round.

National team manager Steve Clarke's top eleven kick off their Group C campaign against Haiti on Sunday June 14 at 2am (Scottish time) at the 65,000-capacity Boston Gillette Stadium in Foxborough with supporters dressed in an array of kilts, sporrans, dark blue shirts and matching bonnets continuing to board flight from Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports in anticipation of the occasion.

Expectations are high for Scotland, making the country's return to the biggest football show on the planet after an absence of 28 years. The match pricing structure remains a huge issue for fans and according to reports many are going to America without tickets hoping to catch the games at local Fanzones.

A huge Scotland fan festival is planned to be staged in Providence, Rhode Island on June 18, the day before the national side's clash with Morocco.

This particular event is free and Scotland's other national drink Irn-Bru beat Coca Cola to land the sponsorship. "TA in the Park" is organised by the Providence Tartan Army. A huge march kicks off the gathering through the city led, of course, by the Tartan Army Bagpipers.

On a more serious note it is reported US police officers have been sent to Scotland, along with Germany, to study a variety of types of fan behaviour and how best to what's been described as learning how to defuse and de-escalate any potential tensions between rival fans.

Yet fans will NOT be segregated at the matches across the US, Canada and Mexico and allowed to drink alcohol in their seats. Licensing hours have also been relaxed to allow the sale of alcohol for 23 hours a day in bars and shops.

Hundreds of Scots have been unable to afford the cost of the World Cup-related flights, accommodation and match tickets. Instead, they are travelling to sunny Spain to watch the national team at fanzone giant screen showings.


ESTA Concerns

The BBC has reported the situation has also been made difficult due to last-minute changes to travel permits. UK citizens intending to visit the States for up to 90 days without a visa apply to the country's Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

However, dozens of fans told BBC Scotland News that they filled out the required form - only for their application status to change from "approved" to "travel not authorised." The UK Homeland Security acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said the ESTA tightening" is because "the Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws.

"Under the Visa Waiver Program all ESTA applications are continuously vetted against law enforcement and security databases. Travellers must provide complete and truthful information including all criminal history...failure to disclose arrests of convictions constitutes misrepresentation...this could lead to ESTA denial, revocation, or a permanent bar from entering the United States."

The spokesperson added that an approved ESTA "does not guarantee admission" the BBC adds. On a brighter note The New York Times highlights "The Athletic" website reporting that, typically, Scots fans see themselves as ambassadors of their country. A great principle surely every football supporter around the world can agree with...

"No Scotland, No Party"