2026 FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifier Group A, Clearer Twist National Stadium, Windsor Park, Belfast 10/10/2025 Northern Ireland vs Slovakia Northern Irelands Conor Bradley Conor Bradley 10/10/2025 PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxIRLxFRAxNZL Copyright: x INPHO/Presseye/JonathanxPorterx 101025JP1football040
Scotland captain John McGinn has drawn a clear line between his infamous Germany moment and the serious business now unfolding in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Aston Villa midfielder famously dressed in Lederhosen, donned a silly hat, and performed a comedy dance on his first day at Euro 2024 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, making headlines around the world.
That memorable image became, for many, the defining snapshot of a deeply disappointing tournament for Steve Clarke’s squad, who failed to leave any meaningful mark on the competition.
Scotland have now settled into their new basecamp at the Atrium Health Performance Centre in Charlotte, an immaculate sun-baked facility that reflects just how seriously this campaign is being taken.
McGinn fronted a press conference there, fielding questions on everything from a cancelled friendly with Norway to murals painted on walls back home across Scotland.
When reminded of his Lederhosen moment, McGinn was characteristically honest: “Do I regret that? Maybe. But at that point I’m not thinking we wouldn’t be successful. I had belief at that time.”
He added a signature promise with a grin: “Let’s just say, there won’t be much dancing getting done before this tournament. But if we manage to get through the group stages then I’ll put that outfit back on and do the dancing all over again!”
Scotland open their World Cup campaign against Haiti in Boston on Saturday night, and the mood in camp is notably more focused than the one that drifted through Bavaria two years ago.
The players have noted the upgraded facilities, from training pitches in Florida to their Charlotte base, which represent a significant step up from what they experienced at the last major tournament.
Back home, the excitement is building rapidly, with McGinn, skipper Andy Robertson, and talisman Scott McTominay all painted onto the sides of buildings across the country.
McGinn’s own mural adorns a house in his hometown of Clydebank, and he spoke warmly about what it means to the community: “Hopefully it can inspire young kids from Clydebank to know they’re one of their own on the world’s biggest stage.”
He revealed the personal connection runs deep, noting: “The person’s house it’s on, I went to school with her son. He might feel a bit weird, but it’s on Jake Anderson’s house!”
McGinn reflected on the renewed sense of national excitement, saying: “It’s been a long time since we seen this kind of thing with Scotland players. I think it puts a smile on my face to see the excitement of children again.”
He described scenes of children outside school gates seeking selfies, adding: “It’s amazing that they’ve got people to look up to from their own country and the world’s biggest stage again and that’s to be celebrated definitely.”
This World Cup also carries deep personal significance for McGinn, who first travelled to the United States over a decade ago hoping to launch his career with Houston Dynamo after being overlooked as a free agent by every top-flight club in Scotland.
He recalled: “It was Houston Dynamo ten or 11 years ago and it was probably a sliding doors moment. Owen Coyle and Sandy Stewart were in charge and I agreed to sign. But there was some red tape that prevented the deal from going through.”
A crestfallen McGinn returned home and was handed a relaunch by Hibs boss Alan Stubbs, and his career has barely paused for breath since that pivotal moment.
He now returns to American soil as a European trophy-winning captain and genuine national icon, a transformation that would have seemed improbable during those uncertain days chasing an MLS contract.
McGinn summed up his football philosophy simply: “Everything happens for a reason in football. You just have to back yourself to give yourself the best chance to do well. And more often than not good things will happen.”
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