No parents want to choose sides when it comes to their children’s sibling rivalry.

But it is especially difficult for Jack and Heather Souttar, whose boys John and Harry are both competing in the World Cup.

The couple from Luthermuir, Kincardineshire, have a major dilemma about who to support – as their sons will be playing for different countries.

John will turn out for Scotland, while younger brother Harry will be starring for Australia, thanks to their mother’s heritage.

Older son John was a toddler the last time Scotland qualified for the showcase tournament and his mother was heavily pregnant with Harry.

Now the family say it is ‘incredibly exciting’ that both boys will be at the World Cup this time around.

But with their opening games being played on Sunday and more than 3,000 miles apart, their parents have decided they will have to miss Harry’s first game in Vancouver, Canada, against Turkey to cheer on John in his World Cup debut with Scotland in Boston.

The couple then face a marathon trip to Harry’s second game in Seattle when Australia face the hosts, America.

A proud Mr Souttar said: ‘If any of my boys are playing anywhere, at any level, I’ll be supporting them.’

He told the Courier newspaper: ‘John playing for Scotland is fantastic but, honestly, Harry playing for Australia gives me the same feeling.

‘People say you can’t change the team you support but I totally disagree with that. Whoever the kids are playing for, I’ll support them with the same passion and pride.’

Football has been a big part of the family’s life, with Mr Souttar having played for Brechin FC in his youth.

Now as they travel thousands of miles to watch both sons flourish on the international stage, he admitted it was ‘all incredibly exciting,’ and felt ‘a bit ridiculous, actually’.

John, who plays for Rangers having previously been at Dundee United and Hearts, first represented Scotland in 2018.

His brother, meanwhile, has featured in the Australian national squad since 2019. Harry also started at Dundee United and played for Stoke before joining Leicester City.

The parents told the BBC that having two sons playing at the highest level means they can enjoy both their successes.

In 1998, the last time Scotland made it to the finals, Mr Souttar was there with oldest son Aaron, who died in 2022.

Mrs Souttar said: ‘I never made it. I was very pleased that they went and I said “I’ll go to the next one”. Here we are, 28 years later for the next one – I’ve waited a while.’