The Highland Games 2026 arrived in Beijing, delivering a lively celebration of Scottish culture, traditions and sport, along with renewed optimism for Scotland's long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup.
The event, a staple among Scottish expat communities around the world, took place last week and featured traditional music alongside athletic competitions. Members of the "Tartan Army", fans of the Scotland national football team, gathered to cheer on their national football team ahead of its first World Cup appearance since 1998.
Scottish football fans in the Chinese capital have met the moment with a dash of excitement and a healthy dose of the self-deprecating humor that Scots are known for.
"We're going to win it. Why not? In typical Scotland fashion, we will probably suffer against the minnows and then play great against the five-time champions, Brazil. That's how it works for us, usually," said Fraser, a Scotland fan who joined a Scottish bagpipes and drumming performance at the event.
Scotland has been drawn in a challenging group alongside Haiti, Morocco and Brazil. While expectations remained cautious, some fans are kindling a flame of hope for an unexpected victory.
"It's a tough group. Obviously, Brazil and Morocco are going to be hard, and Haiti in the first game, but you never know. We'll give it a shot, and like Scotland, if it's going to be glorious failure then that's a nice way to go as well," said Mike, a Scotland fan.
"Surely, everyone wants us to win. Is that going to happen? Oh, I would hope so, but probably not," said Scott, another Scotland fan.
"As a Scot, I'm an eternal pessimist. So, I have aspirations that we might get a point off Haiti and we'll call that a good result. No, but I'm really looking forward to it. I just about remember Tom Boyd scoring an own goal in the '98 World Cup, which is the last one we've been involved in," quipped Graeme Wallace, managing director of the British Chamber of Commerce in China.
The excitement in Beijing reflects an uproar in Scotland, as the country's football fans gear up for their first World Cup in a generation.
Scotland fans in Beijing rally ahead of first appearance in World Cup since 1998
