When the World Cup kicks off this summer, two brothers will walk onto the pitch wearing different flags. John Souttar will pull on Scotland’s navy blue. Harry Souttar will wear Australia’s gold. Same family, same sport, different national anthems, and a shared grief that makes the whole thing hit different.

The Souttar brothers, both professional footballers in England’s top divisions, qualified for different national teams thanks to their mother’s Australian nationality.

A family split across two squads

John, 29, plays his club football at Rangers and has been a fixture in Scotland’s defensive setup for years. Harry, 27, is a Leicester City player currently on loan at Sheffield United and represents Australia after switching allegiance from Scotland’s youth teams in 2019.

Scotland open their World Cup campaign against Haiti. Australia face Turkey. The brothers narrowly missed being drawn into the same group, and the Souttar family will split time between venues in the US and Canada to watch both sons play.

The shadow of Aaron

Aaron Souttar, the brothers’ older sibling, died in July 2022 from motor neurone disease. He was 42 years old. Aaron was 18 years older than Harry and was described as being “like a second dad” to his youngest brother.

John dedicated a goal for Scotland back in 2021 to Aaron, who was battling the disease at the time.

Both John and Harry now carry tattoos honoring Aaron. Those permanent tributes will be visible on the World Cup stage this summer.

Motor neurone disease, known as ALS in the United States, is a progressive neurological condition that gradually destroys the nerve cells controlling muscle movement. There is no cure.

What this means for both nations

For Australia, Harry Souttar is a key part of the Socceroos’ defensive architecture. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches, he’s a physically imposing center-back who offers aerial dominance and has shown a surprising ability to contribute going forward. His switch from Scotland to Australia in 2019 was a significant coup for the Socceroos, adding Premier League quality to a squad that often relies on players from less prominent European leagues.

The Souttar family’s World Cup experience will involve splitting across venues, crossing borders, and switching allegiances from match to match. The tattoos honoring Aaron will be there under the lights, visible every time a camera zooms in on a clearance or a tackle.