Scotland, Football and Poetry

Scotland’s Makar Pàdraig MacAoidh (Eng. Peter Mackay) has written a poem  – in both Gaelic and English – to celebrate Scotland qualifying for the World Cup. The poem, ‘Ris an do-dhèanta’ / ‘At the impossible’, is dedicated to the national squad and reflects on the long journey to qualify, the physicality of the game, and the hope it represents for Scotland fans the world over.

Scotland qualifying for the 2026 World Cup has been a historic moment for the nation. Playing Denmark in November 2025, Scotland qualified for the first time in 28 years – the first time in the lifetime of the younger members of the Tartan Army. It is natural that the Makar –Scotland’s answer to a poet laureate and tasked with responding to matters of national importance – will commemorate this landmark event.

The Tartan Army has a propensity for catchy tunes. From homegrown chants ‘We’ve Got McGinn’ to commandeering Bacarra’s 1977 hit ‘Yes Sir I Can Boogie’ – which MacAoidh references in his new poem – Scotland fans have a way of adopting lines and making them their own.

Could this be a link to our strong oral tradition? Gaelic has a rich history of folklore and song that is a form of cultural storytelling. Ballads are a well-recognised form that blend poetic lyrics with musical accompaniment, often using traditional instruments. Storytelling itself is a recognised creative discipline in Scotland, with stories passed down from one teller to another with care and respect for the art form.

In terms of poetry, Scotland’s national bard Robert Burns is the go-to example, whose words echo around the world every New Year’s Eve, every Burns Supper, in titles of books and everywhere you least expect them. The Makar position itself has honoured contemporary Scottish poets such as Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay and Kathleen Jamie, keeping the modern poetry scene relevant to current events.

What about Scottish poetry about football? One of the first national football teams in the world is Scottish, after the first international game between Scotland and England in 1872. Football is deeply entwined in Scottish culture – whether you love or hate the game, it is widely recognised as a defining feature of Scottish identity.  Alistair Findlay’s showcase of 100 Scottish poems about football is a perfect example of how the game shapes families, traditions and memories.

The newly released We Are Scottish Football: World Cup Edition by Julie McNeill is a perfect expression of the relationship between Scotland, its favourite sport and its poetic culture. This new edition perfectly captures the fevered atmosphere of Scotland’s route to the World Cup, a snapshot of a cultural moment and a time capsule to relive it forever. It is the perfect gift for Father’s Day, for that brother you never know what to buy for, that mate who couldn’t get the tickets, your cousin who never got the Monday off but will stay up to watch anyway. It is the defining companion to a summer none of us will forget for a long time.

MacAoidh’s poem has certainly captured the zeitgeist, but perhaps more ambitious is his call-out for submissions to a collective poem. Stitching together lines submitted by those all over the country, MacAoidh will create a poem, written by the People of Scotland to honour the Men’s National Team on their way to the Americas.

As MacAoidh puts it, ‘Scotland’s qualification is a significant milestone in the history of our national sport. We invite the Scottish public to join the party by sending in poetic lines that hit the back of the net.’