Meeting of the Parliament 10 December 2025
—we’re gonna bring the world cup back from over thar. [Laughter.] So, “ola” rhymes with “thar”—there you go.
Anyway, as we look ahead, we now know exactly what awaits us in 2026. Scotland have been drawn in a group that will test us and excite us. Once again, we are playing our old adversaries, Brazil—I know that they were terrified of getting Scotland in the draw, but they have been unlucky once again.
We look forward to those matches, and they will give the tartan army two cracking destinations. Our opening matches will place Scotland on a global stage in two iconic cities: Boston, with its deep sporting culture and historic Scottish ties, and Miami, where I suspect that the tartan army will do its level best to out-sing the palm trees. Those are venues fit for a nation that is returning to the world cup with ambition and belief, and I have no doubt that the players will rise to the occasion, just as the supporters will.
However, our footballing spirit lives not only in history books or national anthems, but in grass-roots clubs, which are the lifeblood of our communities. Twice over the summer, I visited Sauchie Juniors Football Club, one of my local teams, to see the work that it does with young kids. Some of those kids are not even particularly interested in football, but they really value the time that they have, with some instruction, to be able to kick a ball around with their friends in some of the most deprived parts of my constituency. What Sauchie Juniors does is fantastic.
The same is true of Tullibody St Serf’s community club, also in my constituency—and I am sure that it will be true of clubs in many members’ constituencies. There are volunteers standing on touchlines in horizontal rain, washing kits, running minibuses and coaching young people who dream of becoming the next Andy Robertson or Caroline Weir—and let us hope that Scotland can succeed in hosting the FIFA women’s world cup in the future.
Without those individuals volunteering and carrying out so much of the work, there would be no national team, no Hampden roar and no world cup dream. That is why this qualification matters so deeply: it lifts spirits, inspires young people and energises communities. In Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, and across Scotland, people have taken real pride from our national team reaching the finals. It connects our past, our present and the future that we want for our young people.
I have written to Mr Infantino, the president of FIFA, to ask whether we can get the ball taken across to the United States and on to the pitch at the first match. The president’s son has already spoken very warmly of the fact that Scotland have qualified, so I am sure there will be a great deal of good will if he can do that.
Today, we congratulate Scotland’s national team and Steve Clarke and his staff; we salute the tartan army; we celebrate the clubs and volunteers who keep the game alive; we honour a history that stretches from Stirling castle to south America; and we wish our team every success as preparations begin for the 2026 world cup.
And if Shankland scores the winner in the final—well, even as a Hibs fan, I promise that I will cheer.