Date Published: 30th June 2026

Andrew Crummy, the artist who designed every panel on The Great Tapestry of Scotland, stumbled across a World Cup opportunity enjoyed by one of his panels on the other side of the world.

We know what you are thinking. How can you find a connection between embroidered tapestry and the world cup? Well, we can! And its an extraordinary one. Andrew Crummy, artist behind every panel on The Great Tapestry of Scotland, The Cancer Tapestry, Diaspora Tapestry and many more, discovered by chance that one of his panels had made it all the way to the World Cup this summer, along with a football once belonging to Mary Queen of Scots.

‘Today I found out an amazing surprise that the panel I designed and drew for The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry about Scottish Football coming to Brazil is in Miami, with the oldest football ball in the world! I found out through Smiths Gallery, Stirling. How amazing.’ – Andrew Crummy

The football dates between 1540 and 1570 and is made from thick leather panels wrapped around a pig’s bladder. It was discovered around fifty years ago, in panelling near the Queens Rooms at Stirling Castle. It is usually on display at the Smith Art Gallery, Strirling.

The tapestry panel is not so old! It is designed by Andrew Crummy and depicts Scottish figures Charles Miller and Thomas Donohoe introducing and shaping football in Brazil.

‘Huge congratulations on the tapestry! I absolutely fell in love with it the moment I first saw it, and I was determined from that point on to showcase it to the world’ – Faroque Hussain KPM, Honorary Consul of Brazil