Susan Boyle backs Scotland ahead of first World Cup match in 28 years

Susan Boyle has thrown her support behind Scotland’s men’s national football team ahead of their World Cup group-stage opener against Haiti in Boston on Saturday — the country’s first appearance at the tournament since France 1998.

The Scottish singer posted a video on Saturday in which she pulled back a fur coat to reveal a Scotland shirt, declaring “No Scotland no party” before captioning the clip: “I had a dream! Scotland has a dream! You can do this.”

Boyle is far from alone in making the trip or sending goodwill. First Minister John Swinney, actor Gerard Butler, and singer Clare Grogan are among those who travelled to Boston to witness the occasion in person.

Scotland’s return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence carries considerable weight. Steve Clarke’s side face a group that includes Morocco, whom they play on 19 June, and five-time champions Brazil five days after that. The draw is a familiar one: Scotland faced the same two opponents at France 1998, losing both matches and exiting at the group stage.

The Haiti fixture is widely regarded as Scotland’s best opportunity to collect points before those sterner tests, making Saturday’s result all the more significant for a nation that has waited nearly three decades for this moment.