Scotland’s long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup is now being celebrated in a uniquely Scottish way after the Bank of Scotland unveiled a special limited-edition £20 ($27) note inspired by Scott McTominay’s famous overhead kick against Denmark. The commemorative banknote has been released to mark Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the nation’s first appearance at the tournament since 1998, following a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark at Hampden Park in November 2025. McTominay’s stunning acrobatic finish during that match quickly became one of the most iconic goals in recent Scotland history and played a crucial role in securing qualification for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Scotland returning to the World Cup after 28-year absence
Scotland last appeared at the FIFA World Cup in 1998 under former manager Craig Brown, when they famously opened the tournament against defending champions Brazil before exiting during the group stage following defeats to Brazil and Morocco alongside a draw with Norway. Now, under Steve Clarke, Scotland will return to football’s biggest stage for the first time in 28 years after officially qualifying for the expanded 48-team 2026 tournament. Scotland have been drawn into Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti, with the tournament beginning in June across North America. The qualification-clinching victory against Denmark at Hampden Park became one of the defining moments of Scotland’s recent football resurgence, particularly because of McTominay’s spectacular opening goal. The Napoli midfielder scored early in the match with an overhead kick many supporters and pundits have since described as one of the greatest goals ever scored by Scotland. McTominay has now scored 14 goals in 69 appearances for the national team and has become one of the central figures in Scotland’s modern squad.
Bank of Scotland unveils limited-edition £20 note
To celebrate qualification, the Bank of Scotland has produced a special £20 note featuring imagery inspired by McTominay’s overhead kick. The design combines traditional Scottish banknote elements with artwork recreating the famous moment against Denmark. Only 100 commemorative notes have been printed. According to the Bank of Scotland, 50 of those notes will be made available to supporters through a mixture of collector auctions, prize draws and special pop-up “vault” events in Glasgow and Edinburgh over the coming weeks. Part of the proceeds raised will support Crisis Scotland, the homelessness charity. The note itself has already generated significant attention because of how closely it connects one of Scotland’s biggest football moments in recent decades with a symbol of Scottish national identity. Emma Noble, chair of the Scottish Executive Committee at the Bank of Scotland, explained the thinking behind the project. “Securing qualification in such dramatic fashion is a moment fans will never forget, and we wanted to mark it in a way that’s rooted in Scottish identity,” Noble said. “Like football, banknotes have long been part of our country’s story, and this limited edition £20 note combines those two traditions. “Scott’s overhead kick is already regarded as one of the nation’s greatest ever goals. It’s been a privilege to work with him to bring it to life in such a unique way, and we’re grateful for his support in helping raise funds for Crisis as they work to end homelessness across Scotland.”Noble also described the project as an effort to celebrate Scotland’s World Cup qualification “in a way that’s rooted in Scottish identity.”
Scott McTominay reacts to famous goal being immortalised
McTominay, who has officially been included in Scotland’s 26-man World Cup squad, admitted he felt honoured seeing the moment immortalised on an official banknote. “Reaching the biggest stage of world football is something every player dreams of, and I know it means everything to our fans,” McTominay said. “Moments like that belong to everyone who follows the team, so seeing my goal featured on a Scottish banknote feels incredibly special. “Being able to work with Bank of Scotland to turn it into something that also supports Crisis and the work they do to tackle homelessness makes me even more proud.” The midfielder’s rise over recent seasons has mirrored Scotland’s own progress internationally. After coming through the youth ranks at Manchester United, McTominay spent years developing into a dependable senior midfielder before completing a reported £25.7 million move to SSC Napoli in 2024.
Napoli’s Scott McTominay reacts after a missed opportunity during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between SL Benfica and Napoli in Lisbon, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Under Antonio Conte, McTominay’s role evolved significantly, with the midfielder becoming a far more attacking presence and increasingly influential for both club and country. Though born in England, McTominay chose to represent Scotland through his father’s heritage and has since become one of the defining players of Steve Clarke’s era. Now, after helping Scotland end a 28-year World Cup absence, one of the nation’s most memorable football moments has quite literally been turned into currency.
