New NFL Rumors on Patriots Playing in Scotland amid World Cup Success at Gillette Stadium

The Tartan Army made quite the impression in New England during Scotland's run in the 2026 World Cup. Don't expect the NFL to immediately capitalize on that by sending the New England Patriots to Edinburgh.

The Boston Globe's Nicole Yang first reported Tuesday that Patriots owner Robert Kraft told NFL commissioner Roger Goodell he'd like to have the team play in Scotland. However, ESPN's Mike Reiss pumped the brakes when following up Sunday.

"Sources with the NFL said this isn't an 'active' situation, so it would currently fall in the 'conversation' phase," Reiss reported. "The league views the possibility as appealing in the future, especially with Goodell's stated desire to expand the international schedule beyond the record nine games this season."

The Scotland national team played its first two World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium. Supporters who traveled to the United States took in the scenes around Boston, including watching Boston Red Sox games en masse.

The atmosphere at Fenway Park was so electric the Red Sox wrote a letter to the Scottish Football Association expressing their gratitude:

Scotland isn't one of the countries assigned to the Patriots as part of the NFL's Global Markets Program, and there aren't yet any concrete plans to add the country to the International Series.

Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh and Hampden Park in Glasgow have both been floated as possible staging grounds for an NFL game, though. The Scottish Rugby Union, which owns Murrayfield, is also behind the idea.

If league officials were still unconvinced, the World Cup provided strong evidence the audience is there in Scotland for the NFL. It might only be a matter of time before this is a reality.