Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup sparked an emotional tribute from the late Diogo Jota’s family. Rute Cardoso, mother of Jota’s three children, sent a handwritten letter to captain Andrew Robertson, urging him to carry his former Liverpool teammate’s dream onto the tournament stage. Robertson read the note on camera for FIFA, saying the words would stay with him for a very long time.

Robertson, now a Tottenham defender after leaving Liverpool, recalled Jota’s constant talk of the World Cup during their time together. Jota, who earned 49 caps for Portugal but missed the 2022 finals with a calf injury, died in a car crash last July at 28. The letter praised their friendship, battles on the pitch and the shared dream that now lives through Robertson’s performance.

Scotland open Group C against Haiti on Sunday, then face Morocco and Brazil, marking their first World Cup appearance since 1998. Robertson promised to “play for both of us,” keeping Jota’s memory in every tackle and pass. The gesture has resonated with fans, turning personal loss into a rallying point as Scotland chase a historic tournament run.