New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani wanted his city to take inspiration from the Scotland squad as they geared up to host the World Cup, urging them "channel your inner Kenny McLean."
A speech given by Mamdani ahead of New York being a host city has been shared on social media today ahead of Steve Clarke's side facing Brazil in their final group game.
He was so taken by the story of Scotland's momentous victory over Denmark to clinch their place in the finals that he used it in his speech, asking New Yorkers to adopt the same attitude for their hosting of World Cup matches.
Clarke's message to the Tartan Army - "play with the anticipation of success, not fear of failure" - struck a chord with him, and he also namechecked Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney, John McGinn and McLean.
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Mamdani said: "There is a quote that I have been thinking about. Allow me to rewing back in time about seven months to Hampden Park, Glasgow. It is November. It is cold. A Scottish team that has not qualified for the World Cup in nearly three decades, 28 years to be exact, is playing host to a Denmark side that nearly every expert thinks will win. On the line is nothing less than a place in the World Cup, the greatest tournament in the world. I can only imagine what players like Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney, and John McGinn were feeling. The weight of an entire nation on their shoulders. Generations of hope and expectation make for a heavy burden.
"And then into the locker room strode Steve Clarke, their coach, a man who at that point had been leading them for more than six years. I don't know what he told them in that room, it belongs to them. I do know what he had been telling his players for weeks because he had asked the same of Scottish fans: play with the anticipation of success and not the fear of failure. When Scott McTominay launched himself into the frosty air and attempted an audacious bicycle kick, that was the anticipation of success. When Kieran Tierney bent the winner into the far corner in the 93rd minute, that most certainly was the anticipation of success and then some.
"Scotland are competing in this World Cup because they allowed themselves to believe that success was possible. New York City will show the world what it looks like to host a successful World Cup because we will do the same. In everything we have done to prepare, every goal we have set for ourselves, every initiative we have pursued, we have charted a course for success.
"We have worked together to make tickets for these matches more affordable and more convenient. We have free fan fests in every one of the five boroughs. We have created a mini soccer pitch. We have delivered $26 food and drink options at more than 488 restaurants across our city.
"We are holding a 50,000-person watch party for the final on the Great Lawn of Central Park and it will be 100 per cent free. Over the next six weeks, we will welcome New Yorkers of all backgrounds to Gracie Mansion to come and enjoy the game we all love in a way this space has never been used before. The anticipation of success is what makes the World Cup so magical. It is what allows fans of teams like Haiti and Cabo Verde and Paraguay to dream that this year might be their year. It's what brings people from across the world and across our city together.
"I will close with this. In the 98th minute of that game against Denmark, midfielder by the name of Kenny McLean stole the ball. Scotland were already 3-2 up. All they had to do was to hold on for a few more seconds. McLean saw the goalie off his line. From within his own half, he lined up an audacious shot, an impossible shot, and scored. Scotland won 4-2. The entire country went wild. They had anticipated success that no one ever thought possible.
"As we prepare to celebrate the World Cup, let our city channel our inner Kenny McLean. Let us take shots from our own half. Let us succeed in ways that only New York City can. Now, before I conclude these remarks, I do want to say a deep well of gratitude and thanks to my team because in a world where so much of our day is choreographed, they surprised me. For achievement of our city, there is a quote that I have been thinking about."
