Disaster Index: 3.1 Entry: The Ball Precedes the Nation Cause: The world's oldest football — recovered from Stirling Castle, dated to between 1540 and 1570 — transported to Miami for Scotland's match against Brazil, arriving as a symbol of longevity that the national team has not yet been asked to match. Category: Historical Evidence: The ball predates the Scottish Football Association by approximately three centuries. It survived the reign of Mary Queen of Scots, the Reformation, and four hundred and fifty years of storage. It has been in Miami for less than a week. Scotland's tournament campaign is in its third match. Historical precedent: Scotland has carried older burdens into worse fixtures. Whether this constitutes comfort is a matter for the individual reader. Affected parties: The ball itself; the curators who agreed to this; anyone who finds the juxtaposition difficult to sit with. Immediate outlook: The relic endures. The fixture has not yet been played. The Index notes the distinction and files both. Filed: 2026-06-24 / Group stage, match 3 — Scotland v Brazil