Tartan Army's Boston takeover could lead to Scotland's first NFL game

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has told NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that he'd like to see his side play a regular-season game in Scotland.

That's according to the Boston Globe, who first published the story on Monday, days before Scotland's crunch tie against Brazil in Miami.

The catalyst behind Kraft's move, of course, is the unbelievable atmosphere created by the tens of thousands of Scots who have won over Boston in recent weeks.

How the Tartan Army won over Boston

Gillette Stadium hosted Scotland's opening two World Cup group matches, giving Scottish fans the better part of a week to make themselves at home in Boston.

They managed it fairly comprehensively, as it turns out, in a city that had little idea just how much they would fall in love with the new arrivals.

The Tartan Army filled the streets and bars, befriending locals and creating a party atmosphere that has left an unforgettable impression on the locals.

Legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski and former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, New England royalty, were even photographed in kilts before the Morocco game.

For an 85-year-old billionaire watching from the sidelines, it was apparently quite the sales pitch.

Scotland's case for an NFL game

It would be a first for the country, as Scotland has never staged a regular-season NFL fixture.

They're not completely new to American football, though, with the Scottish Claymores' stint in NFL Europe between 1995 and 2004 setting the stage for almost a dozen teams since then.

SNS Group / Contributor

The league has already played games in seven countries outside the US, with Australia and France joining that list in 2026, and Goodell has spoken fairly directly about where the ambition points.

"That's an important mark to shoot for, and I think we're on our way," he said ahead of the Super Bowl in February, with 16 international games per season the stated goal.

"It's the ambition we have to be a global sport, but it's also the demand we're having.

"We're hearing from cities that want to host these games and really want to get more American football."

The Patriots are already committed to playing in Munich in Week 10 this season, so travelling to Scotland wouldn't be without precedent for the franchise.

Where a game could be played

Murrayfield holds north of 67,000 for rugby internationals and has hosted large-scale events before, making it the logical starting point for any conversation about venues.

Hampden has some history with NFL Europe, though the capacity and setup make it a less obvious fit for a modern international game.

In 2017, both stadiums were mentioned during a promotional visit to Glasgow by Charlotte Offord, then director of marketing for NFL UK.

"It is great to see how passionate the fans are here," she said. "They are travelling quite long distances to come to NFL games, which is great to see.

"Hampden Park and Murrayfield are two venues that are well-equipped and have the right pitch size to host an NFL game.

"Although the focus for us right now is expanding the London games, conversations have certainly taken place and will continue to take place around whether a game is possible in Scotland in the future."

Ross Parker - SNS Group / Contributor

Offord no longer works in the same capacity, having taken on the role of the NFL's GM for Australia & New Zealand, but the appetite remains, as evidenced by Kraft's latest actions.

Scottish Rugby Union told the BBC at the time: "We are very open to welcoming NFL matches to BT Murrayfield. We have nothing planned, but always welcome discussions."

Assuming all parties still feel the same, and with Kraft now throwing his considerable power behind the move, it could be a case of when, not if, Scotland appears on the NFL calendar for the first time.

And if it happens, it seems they'll have the Tartan Army to thank for it.