Ministerial visit: US World Cup 2026

The First Minister and Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs, travelled to the USA to support the national team at the World Cup. They also held meetings to strengthen trade, tourism, culture and diaspora ties, and to promote investment in Scotland.

The tables below show the flight, accommodation, expenses and car hire costs paid by the Scottish Government for these visits. They also show the costs of accompanying staff.

US visits – all costs in £ with redactions

First Minister’s Visit to Boston (11-14 June) and Kentucky (14-15 June)

Name	Flights (£)	Business/ Economy	Hotel(s) (£)	Expenses (£)
First Minister	17,893	B	1,072	0
John Webster, Private Secretary	17,893	B	930	0
Colin McAllister, Special Adviser	9,864	B	1,210	28
Visits & Events official	2,767	E	1,899	445
FM Comms official	1,866	E	1,514	169
Comms Media Content Manager	1,831	E	1,514	344
[REDACTED – S.39(1)]	S.39(1)	S.39(1)	S.39(1)	S.39(1)
[REDACTED – S.39(1)]	S.39(1)	S.39(1)	S.39(1)	S.39(1)
Active Scotland official*	2,313	E	1,041	177
Mark Boyce (US Office)	818	E	1,216	326**
US Office Official	1270	E	2,126	321
US Office Official *	494	E	520	330
US Office Official *	432	E	1,040	419

* Boston only
** The originally published figure of £288 included US Dollar figures, with the sterling conversion being £225.  Additionally, expenses of £101 for luggage costs have been subsequently been claimed and added.

Ms Todd’s visit to Miami (22-25 June) 

Name	Flights (£)	Business/ Economy	Hotel (£)	Expenses (£)
Maree Todd	1,471	E	527	39
Private Secretary	1,471	E	527	84
Active Scotland official	1,884	E	702	116
Mark Boyce (US Office)	306	E	527	217
US Office Official	353	E	527	94

Car hire

First Minister visit	Car Hire - £
Boston	7,878
Kentucky	2,217
Maree Todd visit
Miami	5,458