The Tartan Army’s long trek south from Boston got underway in earnest as thousands headed to Miami for their date with destiny against Brazil.

After going down a storm with their hosts in New England, the Scottish supporters will face the twin threat of tropical downpours and temperatures touching 40C on the next leg of their World Cup journey.

It comes as spectacular thunderstorms in downtown Miami caused the main fan zone to be evacuated temporarily on safety grounds.

And having drunk Boston dry, there are fears Florida may be next to run out of beer - and sun cream, as fair-skinned Scots struggle to cope with the extreme conditions.

While hundreds of fans have flown home after their Boston adventure, thousands more will take to planes, trains and automobiles to make the 1,500-mile journey down America’s east coast from Massachusetts to Florida for the team’s crunch final group match on Wednesday in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

A staggering 50,000 Scotland fans are said to have stayed in Boston during the two fixtures that Steve Clarke’s men played in the nearby Boston Stadium in Foxborough.

They have also left a lasting legacy of goodwill and positive media coverage, not to mention raising huge amounts in charity donations and scoring a huge hit with female admirers across the Pond.

In a post on social media as they left the city, the Tartan Army said: ‘New England – it has been an absolute pleasure.

'Across Boston, Providence, Newport and many towns in between you’ve welcomed us with open arms and unbelievable hospitality, and we can’t thank you enough. As we begin our journeys to south Florida, we hope it’s not goodbye.’

Their intoxicating reputation for high jinks, raucous singing, and bagpipes has generated a ‘Boston bounce’ feeling among locals living along the route of their journey, inspiring offers of accommodation and invitations to local bars, sporting events in a bid to keep the party feeling alive.

Blaine Baline, of Durham, North Carolina, urged fans to stop by Trailside Brewing in nearby Hendersonville for a taste of traditional Appalachian mountain music every Wednesday night. ‘Most of the music came from Scots immigrants (and prisoners) that emigrated here,’ he posted. ‘Hell, join in the playing even.’

Tawny Campbell had opened the doors to her home in North Carolina to travellers but after an ‘amazing response’ realised she would be quickly swamped.

Instead, she directed them to the local Dirtbag Taproom brewery, which has parking and camping facilities. She said: ‘I told them ya’ll drank the airlines, and most of Boston dry, and they seem to think it won’t happen here. Oh, ye of little faith.’

One post on behalf of the Durham Bulls baseball team urged passing Scots to swing by to see them in action at the weekend after seeing the kilted crowds local stage a takeover of a Bost Red Sox game last week.

Referring to statues being adorned with traffic cones in Boston after a Glasgow tradition, the post adds: ‘We have cones and statues!’

Others just wanted to meet travelling Scots, including Laura Lee Reichmannn, of St. Augustine, Florida, who offered to buy Scotsmen ‘a pint or a tea just to hear your accent’.

While many offered southern hospitality, there are signs Miami’s harder edged attitude to law enforcement may feel different to Boston’s laidback approach.

While the City of Miami Beach & Miami Beach Police Department have announced plans for a ‘beach march’ on Tuesday along Ocean Drive ‘as a welcome to the good natured, party loving Scots’, the head of World Cup policing operations in Miami Dade County reminded supporters of a ‘no tolerance’ approach to ‘unruly or criminal behaviour’.

In an online video, Major Benny Solis warned fans there would be a significant law enforcement presence on the streets, including at Miami Stadium, adding: ‘If you come here to start fights, disrupt the peace… or break the law, you will be removed, you will be arrested and you will be held accountable’.

Supporters hope their journey in the tournament can extend beyond the group stages for the first time by claiming something from the match against Brazil – a team they have never beaten. Some remained upbeat with one, Andy Glass, telling

WBZ News Boston: ‘It’s been a dream. The plan now is to go to Miami and beat Brazil.’

Meanwhile, the audience for Scotland’s nail-biting 1-0 defeat by Morocco on Friday peaked at 1.2m viewers on STV and STV Player – the broadcaster’s highest peak audience since June 14, 2024, when Scotland took on Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024.

The Morocco match was also the most-watched TV event of the year across all channels.

Richard Williams, Managing Director of Audience at STV, said: ‘In spite of the disappointing result, it’s clear from the viewing figures that the nation was right behind Steve Clarke’s men for last night’s tense clash with Morocco - no other group of supporters comes close.'