Massachusetts native Matt Damon hails Scottish football fans’ Boston takeover | OneFootball

Hollywood star Matt Damon has lauded Scottish football fans, describing their presence in Boston during the 2026 Fifa World Cup as "epic".

The 55-year-old Oscar-winner expressed his delight, calling it "so awesome" to hear tales of the Tartan Army as they descended upon the Massachusetts city for Scotland’s match against Morocco.

Scottish supporters travelled to the US, Canada, and Mexico – the tournament’s host nations – last month, marking the country’s first World Cup qualification in 28 years. However, their journey was cut short after Croatia defeated Ghana 2-1 in the group stage, leading to Scotland’s early elimination.

Appearing on Late Night With Seth Myers, Damon spoke warmly of the Scottish fans, who garnered significant attention for their spirited takeover of Boston, earning praise for their exemplary behaviour, generosity, and distinctive "patter".

He recounted: "The Scottish fans in Boston. That was one of my favourite storylines in this World Cup. It was so awesome. I heard a story that there was a bunch of Scots outside a liquor store, and a woman walked in and bought a bottle of water and they booed her. It was epic."

Damon, who grew up in Massachusetts, noted the immediate connection felt by locals: "I heard that we instantly declared ourselves a sister city with one of the cities in Scotland. We just knew – ‘oh yeah, you guys are just like us’."

Scottish fans gather in the Boston area for the Scotland-Haiti match (Getty)

The actor, married to Argentinian film producer Luciana Barroso, also shared his boisterous celebration of Argentina’s victory over England in a thrilling semi-final clash. "We scared the shit out of our dogs," he admitted. "Our dogs were hiding, they didn’t know what was happening – it was a pretty rambunctious household."

The Odyssey star light-heartedly joked about his British co-star Tom Holland and director Sir Christopher Nolan being upset by the men’s national football team’s defeat. "A lot of folks (are) not talking to me today," he quipped.

Damon went on to commend Harry Kane’s squad, adding: "They made it to the semi-finals twice, they had a couple great runs. Then they ran into Argentina."

The award-winning actor and his wife were among the celebrities spotted at the nail-biting World Cup final on Sunday, which saw Spain clinch a 1-0 victory over Argentina in extra-time.

Damon is widely recognised for his breakthrough role in Good Will Hunting, which he co-wrote with his friend and fellow actor Ben Affleck. His extensive filmography also includes blockbusters such as The Martian, The Departed, and the action-packed Jason Bourne franchise.