Scottish football fans can now show their support in style with the launch of a newly commissioned Scotland World Cup Football Scarf, released this week by V&A Dundee, Scotland’s Design Museum.
Designed by Dundee-based young creatives and artist Aoife Cawley, V&A Dundee’s World Cup Scarf celebrates the creativity and national pride of the young people of Scotland. With pops of pink and yellow amongst the blue, a unicorn motif and a nod to ‘Flower of Scotland’, the scarf design plays with traditional Scottish symbols and football scarfs.
After a visit to Hampden Park, the young creatives were inspired by the range of Scotland kits from over the years and chose to celebrate the less common pinks and yellows and a lion rampant – a nod to the very first Scotland top, worn in 1872. They also created a unique tartan pattern using a Riso printing technique.
Scotland-based printmaker and textile artist Aoife Cawley graduated from University of Dundee Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in 2024 and her work is held in the University of Dundee Museum. She was awarded the RSA John Kinross Scholarship in 2024 and has designed scarfs for clients across Scotland and Ireland, including The Alasdair Gray Archives.
A limited first run is expected to sell quickly as anticipation builds ahead of the opening fixtures.
Over a period of eight weeks, four young people from Rockwell Learning Centre, Dundee – Jayden, Lochlan, Rachael and Sid – embarked on a unique learning journey to create a meaningful, expressive supporter scarf in time for Scotland’s appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Research began in February with a visit to the Scottish Football Museum and Hampden Park Stadium, immersing the group in the powerful traditions of fandom – colour, energy, belonging and pride. Workshops at V&A Dundee explored pattern, symbolism and creative storytelling, helping pupils think about how a scarf could capture both national identity and their own lived experiences.
Working with designer Aoife Cawley and freelance producer Lara MacLeod the pupils (aged 16-18) learned how designer’s experiment, test and refine ideas. They sketched, printed, sampled and shaped motifs, building skills in illustration, patternmaking and visual communication. Alongside the design work, they explored the fundamentals of marketing – how products are promoted, how audiences connect with stories, and how design choices can shape emotion and excitement.
Gary Jamieson, Schools Development Officer at V&A Dundee, said: “The newly designed scarf is more than a piece of supporter merchandise. It represents teamwork, creativity and the belief that young designers can contribute to Scotland’s story on the world stage.
“Each pupil brought something distinct and together these elements formed a design that celebrates Scottish pride while amplifying the voices of the young people who helped create it.
“As Scotland heads to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the V&A Dundee World Cup Football Scarf stands as a vibrant symbol of identity, collaboration and the power of learning through design.”
Aoife Cawley, Printmaker and Textile Artist, said: “I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to work alongside four extremely creative young people. Working on this project has been a truly rewarding experience. I was delighted that I got to give an insight into my career and how art and design might look outside of the classroom. In return, I learned about working collaboratively together in the design process and I watched my collaborators grow in confidence throughout the eight weeks.
“As a team, we all learned a lot about Scottish identity, history, and culture, and it gave us a better understanding of what Scotland means to young people and where they place themselves in it all. Designing the scarf was a really exciting way to contribute to the nationwide buzz around Scotland’s World Cup qualification.”
Erin Thomson, Retail Manager at V&A Dundee, said: “The V&A Dundee World Cup Football Scarf is a celebration of collaboration, and we’re delighted with the final design. The young creatives brought fresh ideas and perspectives, creating a unique and modern take on the classic supporter football scarf. Our mission for the Shop at V&A Dundee is to showcase the best of Scottish design. The amazing football scarf is a fantastic addition for Summer 2026.”
The V&A Dundee World Cup Football Scarf is available to purchase online and in the museum shop, priced at £30. UK & British Islands shipping available.
V&A Dundee World Cup Football Scarf – V&A Dundee Shop
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