--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-06-09T18:32:23.752Z last_updated: 2026-06-06T11:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/bristol-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnJpc3RvbHBvc3QuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZm9vdGJhbGwtbmV3cy90aGFpbGFuZC1jYW5jZWxsZWQtdXNhLWJvb2tlZC1icmlzdG9sLTExMDAwMTU3 --- # Bristol City legend World Cup-bound after cancelling Thailand trip - **Source:** - **Published:** 6 Jun - **Club:** Bristol City - **Original URL:** https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/thailand-cancelled-usa-booked-bristol-11000157 This year's edition of the tournament is the biggest ever. 48 teams from six different confederations will be heading to the United States of America, Mexico and Canada for a competition like no other, with countless fans plotting their routes to support their nation on the world stage. Despite the increased size of the 2026 edition, however, Bristol City won't - at the time of writing at least - be represented on the field this time around. Ross McCrorie, Yu Hirakawa and Jamie Knight-Lebel had hoped to feature for Scotland, Japan and Canada respectively. Unfortunately, Steve Clarke, Hajime Moriyasu and Jesse Marsch have each now named their squads for the coming summer, with no one of a red and white persuasion USA-bound. One man with deep ties to south Bristol, though, will be making the trip across the Atlantic: Robins legend Scott Murray. The former winger and current kit manager, who had just finished his first campaign as a City player when Scotland last featured at a World Cup in 1998, wasted no time making arrangements when two late goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean sealed the Tartan Army's place in the tournament all the way back in November. "Me and my brother, we were actually supposed to be in Thailand, and then we watched the Denmark game at home on the TV when Scotland scored two last-minute goals," Murray told Bristol Live in an interview at Ashton Gate. "We more or less cancelled our flights straight away. All the latest news, views, interviews, gossip and analysis concerning the Robins, delivered straight to your inbox. It's completely free and you can sign up HERE "Then obviously, when the draw was made, we literally booked everything the day after. We fly out, go to New York for two nights. Then we're in Boston for 10 [nights] and Miami for five. "We've got tickets to watch the group games against Haiti, Morocco, and obviously Brazil in Miami. I can't wait. "It's been 28 years, hasn't it?" the 52-year-old added. "That's what I said to my brother, we may as well do it now while we can still go, because if it's another 40 years before the next one, we won't be there!" Clarke's side have already headed over to the US for a pre-tournament training camp in Fort Lauderdale, having beaten Curacao in a friendly at Hampden Park last weekend. There, they will face Bolivia this weekend in their final warm-up fixture before attention turns to the real thing. Scotland's first World Cup game in almost three decades will see them take on Haiti in Boston, Massachusetts on Sunday, 14 June - 2:00am British Summer Time - before they then face off against one of the surprise packages of the 2022 tournament, Morocco, at the same venue on Friday, June 19. The group stage then comes to a close five days later when the Tartan Army travel to Miami, Florida to take on five-time World Cup winners Brazil. Given Scotland's history, Murray is far from optimistic, but believes Clarke's side have a route out of Group C - despite never getting beyond the first round. Asked if he fancied their chances, the former winger quickly replied, "Absolutely not, I'm Scottish! Listen, I'll be happy if I see a goal... from us, obviously. "Against Haiti, I quite fancy our chances, and then the other two games, we probably won't get anything, but the main thing is, I think there's eight third-placed teams who qualify and there's only 12 groups. I'd like to think we've got half a chance. "I've got three kilts, and I think me and my brother are probably just going to be in Scotland shirts every," Murray added. "Every day." Murray had, of course, been hoping that McCrorie would be lining up against the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Vinicius Jr and Neymar when he booked his tickets all the way back in November. Naturally, therefore, the Reds legend was left disappointed by the defender's omission from Clarke's squad, as well as former City striker Tommy Conway's injury-enforced absence, after the forward sustained an ankle issue during Middlesbrough's unsuccessful play-off campaign. "Gutted," Murray simply said when asked about both players. "And obviously TC as well getting injured. It would have been nice to see both of them out there. "It is disappointing, but I'm sure Rossco will have a good summer." Murray took the time to discuss his plans for the World Cup with Bristol Live shortly after the final whistle had been blown in this year's Talk Club Cup clash between Bristol City and Bristol Rovers legends and celebrities. Join Bristol City Live's Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community. Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone. To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team. We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like. To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Click here to join our WhatsApp community. The likes of Murray, Cole Skuse, Wade Elliott, Louis Carey, Barry Hayles, Byron Anthony, Lee Mansell and Chris Lines featured for the Robins and the Gas at Ashton Gate in the second edition of the tournament arranged by men's mental health charity Talk Club. On this occasion, it was the Reds who ran out 4-0 winners in front of an impressive crowd at BS3, with a brace from Shea Mannings and goals from Lee Peacock and Louis Carey the difference between the two sides. The event itself was about an awful lot more than the football played on the night, however, with Murray proud of the occasion's ability to bring the two sides of Bristol together for such a special cause. "I don't know the exact attendance, but there's probably a couple of thousand here," he explained. "Everyone's thoroughly enjoyed it and obviously the weather and the bank holiday have helped massively. "It's a great turnout, and the Rovers lads and fans have been superb today. It's good craic for a good cause, everyone's enjoyed themselves, and no-one's got injured, which is the main thing." You can find out more about Talk Club here...