Scotland is about to participate in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998, and Glaswegian band Belle and Sebastian are keen on celebrating along with the Tartan Army. The band has revealed “It Only Takes One Lion,” an unofficial anthem for the Scotland National Football Team.
Starting off slow then revving into gear with a disco-like groove, “It Only Takes One Lion” is an ode to the mighty Scots and their upcoming World Cup run, including references to their imminent matches against Morocco (June 19th in Boston) and Brazil (June 24th in Miami), players Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, and Scott McTominay (referred to as “Big McSauce”), and their status as underdogs in the tournament (“This is Scotland/ Where everybody knows you start with nothing”).
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Belle and Sebastian don’t quite do big, boisterous, rousing anthems, so “It Only Takes One Lion” is more sweet and earnest than anything else; still, the band’s enthusiasm is infectious, and watching the footage of frontman Stuart Murdoch as a kid kicking around a soccer ball in a Scotland jersey shows just big it is for him to have the national team back on the world’s stage. Watch the official video for “It Only Takes One Lion” below.
Belle and Sebastian are currently on the road with a tour celebrating the 30th anniversaries of Tigermilk and If You’re Feeling Sinister. They’ve got a handful of dates left in the South and the West Coast, after which they’ll head to Europe, the UK, Asia, and Australia to finish out the tour. Get tickets to see Belle and Sebastian here.
As for the World Cup, the opening match kicks off on Thursday, June 11th, with the tournament running until July 19th. Believe it or not, tickets are still available; get tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup here.
