Souttar brothers represent Scotland and Australia at 2026 World Cup after losing sibling

John and Harry Souttar will compete at the 2026 World Cup for Scotland and Australia respectively following the death of their older brother Aaron.

Shared childhood dreams From a young age, both John and Harry Souttar idolized their elder brother Aaron. They adopted his style, wearing matching clothes and shoes, and even shared his musical tastes. Aaron, a skilled golfer with a deep passion for football, played a crucial part in guiding the careers of his younger brothers. As a sibling nearly two decades older than Harry, he acted as more than just a brother—he became a father figure. John, currently a defender for Leicester City, once described Aaron as the coolest person he knew, placing him on a pedestal. Harry and John will now represent Australia and Scotland in the upcoming summer’s World Cup. ## Legacy after Aaron's passing In July 2022, the Souttar family faced an unimaginable loss when Aaron passed away at age 42 after a prolonged fight with motor neurone disease. Despite his absence, his legacy continues to shape their lives. The brothers honor his memory in different ways, from tattoos to dedicating goals. Their bond has grown even stronger since their loss, with John and Harry finding comfort in their shared grief. ## Football under Aaron's watchful eye Harry Souttar recalls the excitement of playing football whenever Aaron came to watch, whether it was school matches, boys’ club games, or higher-level competitions. The 27-year-old, who qualifies for the Australian team through his mother Heather’s birthplace, always felt a surge of motivation when he spotted his brother in the stands. ‘Playing and looking at the side and seeing him there, I was always trying to impress him,’ he shared. Though they hoped both brothers would be drawn in the same World Cup group, the reality meant splitting their time between games in the United States and Canada. ## Tattoos and goals as lasting tributes Both brothers have chosen permanent reminders of Aaron, inked on their skin. Harry has a tattoo on his left arm depicting Aaron swinging a golf club, while John has his own tribute. The Leicester defender, who has faced severe injuries throughout his career, returned after a long recovery to score his first Scotland goal in a World Cup qualifier against Denmark. In November 2021, he dedicated the goal to Aaron, saying, ‘My brother Aaron, he's at home. He couldn’t make it tonight, but that was for him because he helped me a lot during my rehab.’ ## Grief forges unbreakable sibling bond The loss of Aaron brought John and Harry closer together in ways they never expected. Harry, who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United, reflects on how Aaron’s illness and subsequent passing changed their relationship. ‘Not that me and John were ever that close or anything like that, but with me living in England and him playing in Scotland, we didn’t really speak a lot,’ he admits. Since then, their communication has increased, with frequent calls and texts, even if just to chat about everyday things. Harry describes this as the one positive outcome from their tragic loss, saying, ‘The one good thing to come from it, if you could say it’s a good thing, would be that it’s brought me and John closer.’ ## World Cup dreams take flight together The Souttar brothers will kick off their World Cup campaigns on Sunday, with Scotland facing Haiti at 02:00 BST, followed by Australia’s match against Turkey at 05:00. Harry expresses his joy at sharing this moment with John. ‘It’s just great that we’re both here,’ he says. He acknowledges that John missed out on the Euros, which left him devastated, but Harry is thrilled his brother is finally at a major tournament. ‘I’m absolutely over the moon that he’s here,’ he adds. The family shares a sense of pride, with Harry also feeling immense pride in John’s achievements.