Cam Lister, 25, and Euan Lister, 23, experienced a heartwarming surprise during the World Cup in Boston when their father, Kevin Lister, 55, who is originally from Inverness, revealed himself to be in attendance. The brothers had traveled to the United States to support the Scottish national team, which had qualified for the tournament for the first time in nearly three decades. Their father had purchased tickets for them to see Scotland play Haiti, but had initially led them to believe he would not be joining them.
Kevin Lister had expressed reservations about attending the World Cup, citing political reasons related to FIFA. He had reportedly canceled a flight and voiced moral objections to the current FIFA leadership. However, with only a week remaining before Scotland's first group stage match, he changed his mind, driven by a strong feeling that he needed to be there.
"He'd had that same gut instinct he had to be there," Cam explained. "I'm so glad he did do it and we had the most amazing time. I think those are genuinely memories you take to the grave. I think it's important he did come."
Cam described his relationship with his father as strong, bonded by a shared love for football and their Scottish heritage. Even after moving from Inverness to Ipswich around 20 years ago, the family maintained a deep connection to Scotland, visiting twice a year and celebrating traditions like Burns Night. Scotland's qualification for the World Cup in November of the previous year, their first appearance since 1998, amplified this pride.
"It's been a long time coming," Cam said. "I was born in 2001, Scotland were last there at France '98 and my dad went for the full duration of that tournament."
Initially, a larger group, including friends who had attended previous tournaments, discussed attending. However, doubts arose, and eventually, only Cam and Euan committed to the trip. Kevin Lister offered to use his pension to buy his sons tickets for the opening match, but Cam expressed a desire for his father to join them in person, even if it meant watching the game elsewhere. "It was never really about the game. It was about coming together," Cam noted.
Despite initial cross words, Cam's persistence and the involvement of other family members eventually persuaded Kevin to reconsider. A group of six ultimately decided to go, with Cam, his best friend Adam, and Euan spending a few days in New York before heading to Boston.
Their journey to Boston involved a bus trip that encountered route confusion and significant delays due to the driver being pulled over for speeding. Upon arrival, they headed to a pub to meet their friends. It was there, as one friend ordered drinks for seven people, that Cam turned around and saw his father standing there. "I launched my bag, I don't even know what I was doing!" he recalled.
Cam had assumed his father's reduced communication was due to disappointment, but it turned out he was secretly planning the surprise. The group reportedly had a fantastic time in the U.S., with the "Tartan Army" receiving a warm welcome in Boston. Hundreds of fans gathered before the match, which Scotland won 1-0 against Haiti. Following the victory, many Scotland fans attended a baseball game at Fenway Park, contributing to an exceptionally lively atmosphere that was noted by local media.
The Scottish fans were also noted for their good conduct. "We spoke to a couple of police officers and there were no arrests of any Scotland fans made in Boston at all," Cam said. "And Scotland's always just really good-natured, with good fans – the Tartan Army prides itself on being good guests."