Scotland named worst 2026 World Cup national anthem as Spain tops the list

Martin Macdonald

• 17 Jan 2026 01:30 CST
• 3 min read

Nieuws

Scotland's 'Flower of Scotland' has been named as the worst national anthem out of all the nations set to compete at the 2026 World Cup.

A survey conducted by ticket resale site Seatpick, which is selling World Cup tickets at inflated prices, said of the anthem:

"While it is the unofficial national anthem, it’s often heard at football matches and has been used as the country’s victory anthem since 2010. According to the data, the songs' soft arrangements and darker tone result in a low score of 0.23 out of 10."

The data mentioned is, apparently; tempo, energy, positivity, repetition, and language.

Wow 🤩

The Tartan Army gives an incredible rendition of Flower of Scotland ahead of tonight's match against Denmark 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/1wvcRBK59Q

— The National (@ScotNational) November 18, 2025

Scotland's rating of 0.23 out of 10 is the worst out of any of the nations who have qualified for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Speaking of the United States, their 'Star-Spangled Banner' didn't receive much praise either, with a rating of 3.92/10.

“Despite the country’s deep-rooted pride in ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’, it ranks 29th overall, raising the question of whether it matches the atmosphere of a stadium in 2026,” Seatpick said.

According to Seatpick, the best and most inspirational national anthem belongs to Spain via their 'La Marcia Real' song.

Seat Pick said it's "among the best for its tempo and energy, assisted by its optimal length. It is one of only four countries in the world, alongside Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo and San Marino, with no lyrics. But its grand orchestral arrangement and unofficial fan lyrics keep the stadium crowds excited."

England fans shouldn't get too cocky about Scotland's poor status, either, as their 'God Save the King' rated nearly as bad as 'Flower of Scotland', coming in at 0.93/10.

It's "harmonic dullness and lack of brightness make it sound flat, while its slow tempo evokes feelings of solemnity, resulting in a weaker-sounding national anthem".

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