Local News

“Since Scotland qualified in November, he’s never shut up about it. He was telling everybody this was his lifelong dream.”

By Abby Patkin

June 17, 2026 | 3:20 PM

1 minute to read

Scottish soccer fans are planning a tribute to a fellow “Tartan Army” member who traveled to Boston for the World Cup but died suddenly before getting to attend Friday’s match between Scotland and Morocco. 

Donny Strathie, 76, died unexpectedly in Boston last Sunday, just one day after Scotland’s 1-0 win against Haiti, according to a social media post from the official Tartan Army page. 

“He had his ticket to this match and it was his dream to see Scotland in the World Cup, but he never got the chance. Let’s make him proud,” read the post, which was also shared on his daughter’s Facebook page. 

The Tartan Army is now encouraging fans who attend Friday’s match at Boston Stadium to applaud in tribute during the game’s 76th minute. 

“Let’s see if we can all make this happen Dad,” Cheryl Strathie added in her own Facebook post. 

Donny Strathie’s family could not be reached for comment Wednesday. However, a family friend who spoke to Scottish media outlet STV News said it had been Strathie’s longtime ambition to see Scotland compete at a World Cup. 

“Since Scotland qualified in November, he’s never shut up about it. He was telling everybody this was his lifelong dream,” the friend told STV News. “He thought this was his last chance. He was 76, and you never know when Scotland are going to qualify for the next one.”

The friend also described Strathie as a “great family man” who traveled all over the world to watch Scotland’s national team play.

“Football and Donny were just inseparable. It was all he ever chatted about except his family. He just wanted to be there in the flesh and was so thrilled that Scotland had made it,” they told STV News. “To get the chance to see them on the biggest stage and cheer on the boys in blue, that’s all he wanted to do.”