The Ovo Hydro arena in Glasgow will once again host Scotland’s largest fan zone.
Scotland supporters have gathered at pubs and fan zones across the country to watch the team’s latest World Cup match.
Steve Clarke’s men are taking on Morocco on Friday night in the second group stage game, kicking off at 11pm UK time.
While thousands of the Tartan Army have travelled to the US for the game, excitement is also at fever pitch back in Scotland, with venues packed.
Rachael Smith, 31, from Bishopton, was one of the fans at Scotland’s largest fan zone at the Ovo Hydro arena in Glasgow.
She was confident Scotland will win.
“We’re gonna win, 100%,” she said.
“There’ll be more of an atmosphere, though. Everyone will be buzzing when we score.”
Her partner John Wight, 32, also from Bishopton, joked that he would book flights to go to Miami for the next game if the team wins against Morocco.
“I think there’s so much to play for tonight, and there’s not really as much pressure on Scotland as there was in the last game, because we thought we’re going to beat Haiti,” Mr Wight said.
“We did, luckily, and tonight Morocco are a great team. They are really good, and I think that if we come away, if we draw tonight, this place will be bouncing.”
Even if it’s nil-nil, Mr Wight predicted that the place “will be going wild”.
Ms Smith added: “I’m new to football, but I think you have to back them. I think they need a little bit of confidence in them – it’ll be fine. But if they draw, we’re also good.”
Another Scotland fan has said he has “a good feeling that we’re going to do something special”.
Chris Cairns, 35, who travelled from Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, to watch the game at the Ovo Hydro in Glasgow, said: “I think with everything that’s been going on in America, the good feeling around the Tartan Army, I just think it’s going to happen.
“Call me a hopeless optimist, but I think it’s going to work, it feels good.”
Asked how he would feel if Scotland win, he said: “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep tonight if we win, that might be the challenge that comes after this.
“If we get a win tonight, it guarantees us getting through to the next stage, which would be phenomenal.
“First time Scotland have ever done that in a World Cup. I think that would just be monumental.”
Doors opened at the Ovo Hydro arena at 7.30pm on Friday ahead of the game.
The fan zone had a programme of music, entertainment and punditry before fans watch the match on a 20-metre screen.
Thousands of fans are expected to attend the Hydro during Scotland’s group stage fixtures.
Sophie Craik and Josh Barnham were among the fans packed into The Pitt fan zone in Edinburgh.
Ms Craik said she was “dangerously confident” of a Scotland win.
She added: “It’s phenomenal. It’s such a beautiful moment to see everyone come together, and I think seeing the way that Scotland’s been received in America, especially, has been beautiful.”
Mr Barnham said he was hoping for a “glorious nil-nil victory”.
“I do think this will be the toughest test at the group stage,” he said.
And if Scotland qualify out of the group, Ms Craik said it should be “public holidays for weeks”.
Mr Barnham added: “A bank holiday week, has that ever been done? It should be.”
The late-night kick-offs for Scotland’s group stage games means most councils around the country have chosen to allow extended licensing hours for pubs and other venues.
The Scots are at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and began their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Haiti at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Saturday.
The Morocco clash is the last game Scotland play in Boston before heading to Miami to face Brazil on June 24.
A win against Morocco will ensure Scotland make it out of the group stage for the first time.
With a draw, the team is all but guaranteed to secure qualification.
Morocco, ranked sixth in the world compared to Scotland in 37th, are heavy favourites but the Tartan Army are nonetheless dreaming of making history.
