Addis Ababa, June 19, 2026 (FMC) – The world’s oldest surviving football has travelled from Scotland to the United States for a special exhibition during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, celebrating Scotland’s return to football’s biggest tournament after a 28-year absence, international media reported.
Dating back to around 1540, the nearly 500-year-old leather ball is widely recognized as the oldest surviving football in the world. It was discovered behind wooden paneling in the Queen’s Chamber at Stirling Castle during restoration work in the 1970s and is normally housed at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.
According to Reuters and Scottish heritage authorities, the ball’s visit to the United States is intended to showcase Scotland’s centuries-old football legacy to a global audience gathered for the expanded FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Made from stitched leather and originally inflated with a pig’s bladder, the artifact predates the codification of modern association football by more than three centuries, making it one of the sport’s rarest and most significant historical treasures.
The exhibition coincides with renewed international attention on Scotland’s football heritage as the national team competes in its first FIFA World Cup since 1998. Scotland opened its Group C campaign with a 1-0 victory over Haiti and faces Morocco later on Friday, aiming to strengthen its hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time.
The initiative underscores Scotland’s enduring contribution to the global history of football, using one of the game’s oldest surviving artifacts as a symbol of the sport’s rich heritage during the world’s premier football tournament.