Hollywood icon Matt Damon has praised the enthusiastic Scottish football fans, calling their presence in Boston during the 2026 FIFA World Cup “epic.”
The 55-year-old Academy Award winner expressed his excitement, describing it as “so awesome” to hear stories about the Tartan Army as they flooded into the city for Scotland’s match against Morocco.
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Scottish fans made their way to the US, Canada, and Mexico— the tournament’s host nations — last month, marking Scotland’s first World Cup qualification in 28 years. However, their journey was cut short when Croatia bested Ghana 2-1 in the group stage, resulting in Scotland’s early exit.
During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Damon fondly spoke about the Scottish supporters, who captured significant attention for their animated takeover of Boston, earning accolades for their outstanding behavior, generosity, and unique banter.
He recounted, “The Scottish fans in Boston were one of my favorite aspects of the World Cup. It was amazing. I heard a story about a group of Scots outside a liquor store when a woman went in to buy a bottle of water and they booed her. It was epic.”
The actor, who was raised in Massachusetts, highlighted the immediate camaraderie between locals and Scottish fans, saying, “I heard that we instantly declared ourselves a sister city with one of the towns in Scotland. We just felt like, ‘oh yeah, you guys are just like us.’”
Scottish fans gather in the Boston area for the Scotland-Haiti match (Getty)
Alongside his wife, Argentinian film producer Luciana Barroso, Damon also recounted his exuberant celebration of Argentina’s thrilling semi-final victory over England. “We scared the daylights out of our dogs,” he confessed, “They were hiding; they didn’t know what was happening – it was quite a lively household.”
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The Odyssey star humorously remarked that his British co-star Tom Holland and director Sir Christopher Nolan were likely upset about the men’s national football team’s loss. “A lot of folks are not talking to me today,” he joked.
Damon praised Harry Kane’s team, stating, “They made it to the semi-finals twice and had some great runs. Then they met Argentina.”
He and his wife were among the notable figures present at the heart-stopping World Cup final on Sunday, where Spain claimed a 1-0 victory over Argentina in extra time.
Damon gained fame for his breakout role in Good Will Hunting, which he co-wrote with his friend and fellow actor Ben Affleck. His extensive filmography includes major hits such as The Martian, The Departed, and the action-filled Jason Bourne series.