Scotland’s World Cup dream is finally here.
But for hundreds of supporters, the nightmare has already begun.
Fans who spent thousands of pounds following the Tartan Army to the United States say their travel plans have been thrown into chaos after approved travel permits were suddenly revoked just days before the tournament.
And now FIFA is facing questions as frustration grows.
Kenny Smith, a Scotland supporter from Inverness, says he has spent more than £10,000 on flights, accommodation and match tickets.
Now he fears he may not even make it to the games.
“We’ve followed all the rules, paid for our tickets, and now we’re told we can’t even watch the games? This is heartbreaking.”
He is far from alone.
The issue affecting supporters is particularly alarming because these were not rejected applications.
Many fans had already received approval through the ESTA system before being informed that their authorization had been withdrawn without explanation.
Scott Braid, an engineer from Kirkcaldy, is among those affected.
He was due to travel to Boston with his wife and two children after spending around £8,000 on the trip.
His application was approved within 24 hours.
Then it was suddenly revoked.
“I’m really devastated,” he said.
“It’s all I can think about. The frustrating thing is the lack of answers. They just won’t tell you the reason.”
The growing controversy has now reached government level.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has confirmed he has contacted US officials directly and pledged to do everything possible to help affected supporters.
The UK government has also become involved, with Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander making representations on behalf of fans in an attempt to resolve cases before kick-off.
US officials have defended the decisions.
Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary for Homeland Security, said all travel authorizations are continuously reviewed against security and law-enforcement databases and can be withdrawn if new information emerges.
But that explanation has done little to calm supporters who feel they are being punished without being told why.
The controversy intensified further when FIFA president Gianni Infantino was asked about the situation.
His response angered many supporters.
“Chill,” he told reporters, adding that FIFA cannot control the actions of governments or immigration authorities.
For Scotland fans facing the prospect of missing the country’s first World Cup appearance in almost three decades, chilling is the last thing on their minds.
The countdown to the Haiti match continues.
But for hundreds of supporters, the race is no longer about football.
It’s about finding a way into the country before their World Cup dream disappears completely.
The bottom line.
Hundreds of supporters affected. Thousands of pounds spent. Approved travel permits suddenly revoked.
With Scotland’s World Cup opener just days away, time is running out.
