\n Miami CBP officer poses with world’s oldest football | Image by Director of Field Operations\/X <\/p>\n
The world\u2019s oldest known soccer ball has made its first trip to the United States, traveling from Scotland to Florida ahead of a FIFA World Cup match and offering fans a rare glimpse at a piece of sporting history believed to be nearly 500 years old.<\/p>\n
The leather ball, recognized<\/a> by Guinness World Records as the oldest surviving football in the world, is being displayed at the Coral Gables Museum in Miami as part of the exhibition \u201cDiplomacy and the Beautiful Game: From Scotland to Brazil to Haiti.\u201d<\/p>\n Its visit coincided with Scotland\u2019s World Cup group-stage match against Brazil, marking the first time the artifact has been present at a FIFA World Cup game.<\/p>\n Historic Artifact Linked to Mary, Queen of Scots<\/p>\n The ball was discovered during renovation work at Stirling Castle in the 1970s. Workers found it lodged behind oak paneling in the rafters of the Queen\u2019s Chamber, a room associated with Mary, Queen of Scots.<\/p>\n Scientific testing dated the ball to between 1540 and 1570, placing it during the reign of James V and the childhood years of Mary, Queen of Scots.<\/p>\n Made from thick leather panels stitched together and turned inside out, the ball also contains a pig\u2019s bladder at its core. Roughly the size of a small melon, it differs significantly from modern soccer balls but still demonstrates the sport\u2019s long history in Scotland.<\/p>\n Curators say there is no definitive proof that Mary, Queen of Scots, ever used the ball, though records show she enjoyed athletic activities, including football, golf, tennis, and jousting.<\/p>\n Scotland\u2019s Sporting Heritage on Display<\/p>\n The artifact is on loan from the Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, where it is considered<\/a> one of the institution\u2019s most prized possessions.<\/p>\n Museum officials describe the ball as a significant link to Scotland\u2019s sporting past. Historical records indicate football was already popular in Scotland by the 15th century, although the game was far different from today\u2019s version and was often criticized for its rough nature.<\/p>\n Lucy Casot, chief executive of Museums Galleries Scotland, said<\/a> the ball serves as a reminder of Scotland\u2019s contributions to a sport enjoyed around the world.<\/p>\n