FORMER One Direction star Niall Horan has pledged his support for Scotland at this summer's World Cup.
The singer, who hails from Ireland, made the announcement during an interview ahead of his recent performance at Capital’s Summertime Ball. With the tournament set to kick off in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Horan said he would be backing Scotland, given that the Republic of Ireland did not qualify.
Horan said: "I think I'm going to go with the Scottish, they're our Celtic brothers, you know."
The World Cup begins on Thursday. Horan’s comments come shortly after the release of his fourth studio album, Dinner Party, on Friday.
During his appearance at the Summertime Ball, the 32-year-old performed Steal My Girl. He described the event, which takes place at Wembley Stadium each year, as a pivotal part of his musical journey.
Horan said: "It's a big part of my career for the last 15 years. Any opportunity I get to play at Jingle Bell Balls or Summertime Balls, it's always amazing, and there's not many companies that can pull off a gig of this size with the line-up that we have, so it's a pleasure to be here."
One Direction formed in 2010 on The X Factor and went on hiatus in 2016. In 2024, the group reunited to attend the funeral of bandmate Liam Payne, who died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.
Horan’s solo career began with the release of Flicker in 2017, followed by Heartbreak Weather in 2020 and The Show in 2023.
