Football's Square Mile Opens The World's Smallest Football Museum

Announcement - 13th June 2026

As Scotland enters the final 24 hours before their opening game of the 2026 World Cup, another piece of football history is kicking off closer to home. We are delighted to officially open The Fifth Hampden — the World's Smallest Football Museum.

The Fifth Hampden is dedicated to celebrating all things Scottish football, that helped create and shape the modern global game.

Created and Curated by FSM Communities Director, David Coutts - click this link for more details: https://tinyurl.com/5thHampden

A special space has already been allocated for the World Cup trophy. Some may call that optimism, however we call it planning ahead. After all, Scotland will have a chance of bringing it home to the country, where the modern game was invented.

Curator and Football Heritage Activist David Coutts, said: "Some people might think we're getting ahead of ourselves by making room for the World Cup trophy. But football heritage is about preserving the past while believing in the future. Scotland gave the world the modern game, so it seems only right that we've already reserved a place for football's greatest prize when it finally comes home.

"As for the museum's name, for years football historians have searched for the Fifth Hampden. Like Brigadoon, it is said to appear only to those who truly believe. The full story of the Fifth Hampden remains one of Scottish football's great mysteries. To understand it, you have to believe in the romance of football and visit the Fifth Hampden!"

And if inspiration is needed, visitors can always hum a few bars of the legendary World Cup anthem by our friend, Hugh Reed and his famous Velvet Underpants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y62y6zBVbSU

Our mission is to bring the Scotch Professor story out of the archives, and into accessible experiences for all to enjoy. This is another fascinating step forward in our journey.

Graeme Brown, Engagement Director of FSM and fellow Football Heritage Activist, says, "Following in the footsteps of the great Archibald Leitch, master football stadium builder of the 20th Century, Football's Square Mile pushes the boundaries once again, creating a unqiue visitor experience. We now have the world's smallest football museum to add to the existing mobile and open-air football museum formats.

Together, The Fifth Hampden, the world's smallest football museum, and Football's Square Mile, the world's largest open-air football museum, are preparing to welcome the world's most important football trophy."

From the biggest football stage to the smallest football museum, the road home starts here.

C'mon Scotland! No Scotland, No Party.