Patriots rumors: Is there a real chance of Scotland game after World Cup fervor?

The New England Patriots have been swept up in the FIFA World Cup hype. New England agreed to host World Cup games at Gillette Stadium, resulting in Scottish football fans swarming the city of Boston. Now it appears that the connection forming between those fans and the Patriots could deepen in the future.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently expressed an interest in his team playing an international game in Scotland in the future, as first reported by Nicole Yang of Boston Globe.

But is that really a possibility? ESPN’s Mike Reiss investigated whether or not the NFL is serious about Kraft’s proposal.

“Sources with the NFL said this isn’t an “active” situation, so it would currently fall in the “conversation” phase,” Reiss wrote. “The league views the possibility as appealing in the future, especially with Goodell’s stated desire to expand the international schedule beyond the record nine games this season.”

Realistically, both the Annual League Meeting and Spring League Meeting have already passed. That means next offseason could be the earliest time when Kraft’s proposal could gain significant traction. But that does not prevent him from continuing to make his sales pitch.

Still, the league will need to do its own research into the viability of an NFL game in Scotland.

“The NFL continues to look for new markets and key parts of what it vets are a fanbase to support it, a stadium that would be up to or close to NFL standards, and interest from NFL teams to play there,” Reiss added.

If the NFL ever decides to play in Scotland, New England will almost certainly be invited.

“In the case of Scotland, the Patriots have decisively planted their flag in the ground as an intriguing conversation starter,” Reiss concluded.

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