Scottish football fans are gathering at venues across the country to watch as the national team bids to make history by qualifying from the group stage of a World Cup.
Steve Clarke’s men are playing Brazil later on Wednesday night in their third and final group game, kicking off at 11pm UK time.
While thousands of Tartan Army faithful have travelled to Miami for the game, excitement is also reaching fever pitch back in Scotland, with fans packing out the pubs and bars showing the game.
Jean Rhodes, 78, from Paisley, arrived early for the watch-along event at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow wearing a traffic cone hat.
The pensioner, who posts on TikTok and is a fan of actor Gerard Butler, said she was confident Scotland could grab a draw against Brazil.
“I don’t think we’ll win, but we’re going to draw,” she told the Press Association.
“The way I look at it I might not be here for the next time to go for a World Cup, so I’m going to enjoy it.”
Asked about her choice of headwear, Ms Rhodes said: “They have been putting them (cones) on the Boston (statues), so I’ve got one in the house, so I just put it on.”
She said she would be “over the moon” if Scotland managed to qualify from the group.
“I’d be absolutely over the moon – it would be worth all the years waiting,” she said.
Ms Rhodes is attending the Glasgow watch-along with friend Heather Horrocks, 32, from North Ayrshire.
“We live in hope,” Ms Horrocks said of Scotland’s prospects. “I think a draw would be good. I don’t think we’re going to win, but a draw would be brilliant.
“But you live in hope – that’s what you’ve got to do when you’re a Scotland fan, isn’t it?”
First Minister John Swinney is among the fans in Scotland backing the team to make history in the game against the five-time world champions.
“The Tartan Army has captured the imagination of millions and I know that the team will have been inspired by their support,” he said.
“I know they can make history by reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time – the team have the chance to make themselves legends tonight.”
Thousands of fans are expected to watch the game at fan zones across Scotland, including the Hydro in Glasgow and The Pitt in Edinburgh.
At both venues, the fans will be shown the game on gigantic screens, with the atmosphere pumped up ahead of kick-off with music, chanting and rousing speeches.
Chris Cairns, from Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, was one of many fans who watched the Morocco game at the Hydro on Friday.
He said watching the game at the fan zone was the next best thing after seeing it in the stadium.
“We just love following Scotland,” the 35-year-old said.
“My dad and I go to all the games, and because we couldn’t get across to America, we thought this was the second best thing.”
This was echoed by John Wight, from Bishopton, Renfrewshire, who said he wanted to watch the game alongside other Scotland fans.
“It’s a good idea to come to the Hydro,” he said.
“It’s the biggest venue in Scotland.”
Fans across the country will be hoping to see the national team bounce back from their 1-0 defeat against Morocco and secure their place in the next round of the competition.
A win would see Scotland make it beyond a World Cup group stage for the first time.
With a draw, the team is all but guaranteed to secure qualification.
However, with Brazil ranked fifth in the world and Scotland 41st, the five-time World Cup winners are heavy favourites – but the Tartan Army are nonetheless dreaming of making history.
Even a defeat may still see Scotland progress out of the group as one of the top eight third-placed teams.
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