Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland in Boston

The sheer volume of Scotland fans in Boston is already visibly cranking up.

Last night we bumped into Radio 5 Live's very own Pat Nevin who had just arrived, who told us of every plane to pretty much every destination being filled with Tartan Army followers, going every which way to make it over here.

Hope they've packed their sun cream.

Gordon Ramsay is a part of the Scotland takeover in Boston...

We said Gordon Ramsay was in town...here is the celebrity chef at Scotland training.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's football tactics correspondent Umir Irfan was asked in a Q&A in this page earlier today how crucial Scott McTominay was for Scotland:

"I'm a big fan of McTominay myself and I think if Scotland are to get joy, he will likely be central to it. His ability to cover big distances, even in a warmer climate, will be one of his strengths.

"If teams look to press Scotland when they build out from the back, his ability to carry the ball up the pitch will give Scotland respite. He also makes sense as an aerial target when they go long.

"As we've seen for both Manchester United and Napoli, he has match-winning quality. His ball-striking and threat from set-plays will be key if Scotland are to turn tight games into results.

"In short, arguably their most important player for me."

Lewis Irons
BBC Scotland in Boston

Absolute relief. McTominay is in training and looks at his usual best here. He’s sharp in the rondos and looking in good spirits.

Everybody breathe.

More pictures are coming through of Scotland training.

Scott McTominay's appearance in the group was by no means a given.

The Napoli midfielder's absence with an illness looked set to dominate discussion before Saturday's opening game against Haiti.

Image source, PA Media

Calum Macdonald
BBC Scotland in Boston

Relief all round as Scott McTominay trains in Foxboro.

Fantastic news for Scotland fans and Steve Clarke, but the big question now is who misses out tomorrow night against Haiti.

The midfield worked well last Saturday against Bolivia, with Gannon-Doak, Ferguson, McTominay and Christie in there. The notable omission being John McGinn who was rested after a long club season with Aston Villa.

Is it a straight choice between McGinn and Bournemouth's Ryan Christie for the final spot in Clarke's midfield?

We'll never get a consensus, but a thumbs up for McGinn, thumbs down for Christie?

Or get in touch if you think Clarke should change something totally different...

Image source, PA Media

Back to the present day and a bit of welcome good news for Scotland supporters everywhere...

If the Mayor of Boston wants an idea of what to expect over the coming days, here is a few images of the scenes in Munich before Scotland's opening game at Euro 2024...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Megan Bonar
Reporting from Boston

There have been some concerns in Boston about where Scotland fans will go as the city's main fan zone is oversubscribed and a huge number of travelling fans do not have match tickets.

The Mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, said her office was working on opening a "consumption area" for supporters. But it is not clear whether it will be ready in time for Scotland's opening fixture with Haiti at 21:00 local time on Saturday.

Many fans are just happy to be in Boston and soaking up the atmosphere.

Jim Brown from Edinburgh said: "It's almost as good as at home. The beer has actually got a head on it here. A lot of US cities don't have that feeling. I don't think Boston truly knows what is about to hit it."

For Nikki Smith, from Keith in Moray, a lost suitcase has been an unlucky start to the trip.

"My kilt is in the bag so I don't have that and my contact lenses are in the bag so I can't see the game but we'll make it work," he said.

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland in Boston

So, it's a bit of a cliche, but it had to be done.

Boston's famous for many things - one of them being it's absolutely roasting, which I'm finding out to my cost - with the biggest potentially being the bar Cheers, famous from the TV show... erm... Cheers.

After eventually shutting the laptop, I ventured out to find the local spot for Norm, Cliff and the gang (ask your parents, kids).

Instead I found two dozen Scottish people chanting along to Bits 'n' Pieces.

Image source, Scott Mullen

I wonder if Gordon Ramsay has paid a visit to Boston's most famous hostelry?

It would be rude not to, wouldn't it?

Lewis Irons
BBC Scotland in Boston

The celebrity chef has been spotted arriving here at the training ground. Pulling out all the stops to solve Scott McTominay’s stomach bug?!

Megan Bonar
Reporting from Boston

"Big" Jay Howard and his brother Ed Murray, who are in charge of security at Boston's only Scottish pub, The Haven, have been given a crash course in Scottish culture ahead of Scotland's games in the city.

"It blew my mind," Jay said. "I came in yesterday and then these guys were wearing these kilts and they just started singing for no reason. I love the energy."

As an American football fan, Jay said the crowd was very different to what he is used to.

"This is a whole new world for me. Bostonians are excited, the bars are booming and it's bringing a real buzz to the city."

Lewis Irons
BBC Scotland in Boston

We’ve made it to the training ground, home to MLS side New England Revolution. Security checks before being let in here.

The team coach just arrived and we’ll get a look at training shortly.

Image source, Lewis Irons

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland in Boston

No prizes for guessing what the hot topic was over breakfast at BBC Sport Scotland HQ in Boston...no, not whether to have the crab cake benedict again this morning or to give the lobster a go.

Wait, that makes it sound like we're staying at some plush, five-star resort. We're not, honest guv.

Anyway, of course we were chatting about the fitness or otherwise of Scott McTominay. On one hand, his absence would solve the conundrum of who to leave out of the midfield that started against Bolivia to get John McGinn in. But on the other, Scotland will desperately want their talismanic midfielder available to start this momentous fixture.

Stay tuned for an update on this from Steve Clarke at his news conference in a few hours. I went for the lobster by the way.

Right, let's switch our attention to Scotland.

The players are due out for a training session soon and there's a big burning question... will Scott McTominay be involved?

Image source, Getty Images

One of the biggest issues for fans both native to the United States and from abroad has been ticket prices.

In the days before the USA's opener, there were still tickets available for the game. But with the cheapest going for $1,120 (£836), many fans - particularly families - have been priced out.

In downtown LA, family of four Chris, Angie, Layla and Lauren said they were thrilled to have World Cup football in their home area.

"We have two girls in club soccer so we are very much fans," said Chris.

"Unfortunately we will watch at home. The ticket prices and availability are a whole other subject."

"If it was more affordable for families we would definitely go and check it out," says Brennan, who was with wife Erica and children Stephanie and Marcel.

"Despite that, we will still be excited and watch it from home."

Image source, Getty Images

The attention of the world turns to Los Angeles tonight, where the USA will begin their World Cup campaign against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium.

Katy Perry leads a star-studded line-up of music artists who will perform at the ceremony to open the first World Cup finals hosted by the States since 1994.

Twelve miles away in the area of downtown Los Angeles known as Skid Row, there is a large population of people experiencing homelessness.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the agency which lead the city's homelessness response, reported that almost 60,000 residents of the city were without a home in 2019.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier this week, the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner announced that announced that the department would immediately suspend funding to the LAHSA, external and the opening of an investigation into the agency.

"Under President Trump, HUD will fund results, not corrupt failure or the homeless industrial complex," Turner wrote in a press release.

"Taxpayers will no longer bankroll an organization that puts its own self-interests ahead of the Americans it was created to serve."

Image source, Getty Images