Fan engagement, partnerships, and explaining the innocence of traffic cones were some of the key moments for Police Scotland officers at the World Cup, which ends on Sunday
As the tournament draws to a close, the small team of officers who worked in the United States reflects on their experience.
Two Police Scotland officers were based at the International Police Coordination Centre (IPCC) providing intelligence and cultural awareness to support proportionate policing and coordinated with 42 international police forces. Another two Police Scotland officers travelled as a moving delegation with the Scotland fans at fan zones, transport hubs and stadiums.
The moving delegation was Inspector Colin Fordyce, who has 35 years of police experience with a public order background, and Chief Inspector Stevie Murray, based in Greater Glasgow Division. The pair used their experience to engage with Scotland fans, listen to any concerns, support local police and give advice on fan marches and crowd management.
Integration with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) was also vital for welfare, family liaison and fan support.
It reinforced the strong relationships that were built leading up to the tournament. Online and in-person briefings were led by Police Scotland, bringing together the Scottish Football Association (SFA), fan representatives, Boston, Providence and Miami Police Departments, and the FCDO. Since early 2025, American and Canadian law enforcement visited Police Scotland to learn about our approach to policing major events, including the importance of communication, de-escalation and public safety tactics.
Superintendent John Menzies, who worked at the IPCC and is head of the Police Scotland delegation, said: “The benefit of early, mutual engagement with key partners, particularly the Tartan Army, SFA, FCDO and US law enforcement, was clear.
“The focus should be football, and for police to have as little involvement as possible, but for that to happen there must be lawful behaviour, strong coordination and an understanding of what might result in an enforcement response, so there was a lot done in the background to help achieve that.
“I’d like to acknowledge the planning and effort from the Tartan Army who worked incredibly hard to ensure Scotland fans had a safe and enjoyable experience.
“The work of the Tartan Army, with Police Scotland influencing a complex, multi-agency operation, alongside the key work on the ground delivered by federal, state and local police, helped prevent any serious issues.
“It was a collective effort, and the enhanced partnerships will hopefully continue for years to come.”