By Daily Review Online
The world’s oldest known football is set to make its first journey across the Atlantic to the United States as part of a FIFA World Cup exhibition.
The historic artefact, housed at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Scotland, will be displayed at the Coral Gables Museum in Miami from June 20 to 26 as part of an exhibition titled Diplomacy and the Beautiful Game: From Scotland to Brazil to Haiti.
The football will also attend the World Cup match between Scotland and Brazil on June 24, marking the first time in its nearly 500-year history that it will be present at a FIFA World Cup fixture.
The ball was discovered behind oak panelling in the Queen’s Chamber at Stirling Castle during renovation work in the 1970s. Scientific analysis dated it between 1540 and 1570, during the reign of King James V and the childhood of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest football, the artefact is made from stitched leather panels with a pig’s bladder forming its inner core.
Museum director Caroline Mathers described the trip as a significant moment for the institution, saying the artefact’s inclusion in a global event highlights Scotland’s rich sporting heritage and the international importance of the museum’s collection.
Neil Benny, chairman of the museum’s board of trustees, said the football would serve as an ambassador for Stirling and Scotland on the world stage.
Brazil’s Honorary Consul, Faroque Hussain, said the exhibition would strengthen cultural ties between Scotland, Brazil and the United States through a shared passion for football, heritage and history.