JOHN Swinney has hit back at political opponents suggesting he has headed out to Boston on a "World Cup jolly".
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay made the accusation against the First Minister earlier this week, before Swinney headed to the US ahead of Scotland's opener against Haiti at the weekend.
But the SNP leader has said he believes Scots will expect him to be attending the first match and he will use the time he has in the US to advance Scotland's interests.
He told Clyde 1: "I think people would expect the First Minister to go and represent the country for the first time in 28 years that we're in the World Cup. I think it's probably expected the First Minister would go there to be at the match.
"But I'll use all the time that I've got there to try to advance the economic interests of Scotland, I have some time to engage with the Tartan Army and the Tartan Army are such a strong, positive, force for good in Scotland and they command such affection around the world.
"I know from my trip to Munich in 2024 for the Euros that the Tartan Army turned so many heads within Germany and I know they will do exactly the same in such a positive way in the United States."
John Swinney’s rejecting suggestions his trip to the World Cup is just a ‘taxpayer funded jolly’ The First Minister’s in Boston where he’ll have meetings with business leaders and investors before attending Scotland’s opening game against Haiti pic.twitter.com/n7d3weLzh2
— Clyde 1 News (@Clyde1News) June 12, 2026
Swinney said he was optimistic about the team's prospect following their 4-0 win in a friendly over Bolivia last weekend.
He said the team were "spirited and focused" and "delivered some precision football", adding that Steve Clarke taking the team to the World Cup was a "colossal achievement" .
Swinney has a packed schedule out in the US which includes a tour of Harvard University in a bid to strengthen its relationship with Scottish institutions and a meeting with the mayor of Boston Michelle Wu.
He will also be attending a Scottish Night in Boston dinner and gala event, hosted by the David Yarrow Foundation in aid of Street Soccer Scotland where he will join "high-profile" representatives from the world of sports, entertainment and business.
