Scotland’s World Cup dreams could become a reality at Hampden Park next week.
The last time the Tartan Army took part in football’s biggest tournament was in 1998. Steve Clarke has made the Tartan Army believe their long absence will soon be over.
There are only two games left in Group C, and automatic qualification remains a possibility.
Clarke’s side defeated Belarus twice, beat Greece at Hampden and held Denmark to a goalless draw away.
Scotland and Denmark are level on 10 points, behind the Greeks, who are seven points behind with two games remaining.
However, if you look at goal difference, the Danes are sitting at the top of the table.
Although a play-off spot has already been secured, automatic qualification is Scotland’s biggest prize.
To finish Group C in first place, they need to either beat Denmark on points or, if tied, on goal difference.
Scotland defeated Greece at Hampden Park last month.
A win in Athens on Saturday would put them in the perfect position for their showdown with the Danes at Hampden Park three days later.
Unbeaten Belarus is unlikely to shock Copenhagen. That means Scotland need at least a draw to keep their hopes of winning the title alive.
If they win at the National Stadium after that, they will be guaranteed a spot in next summer’s World Cup.
Simply put, Scotland must pick up more points than Denmark in their remaining two games or face play-off pressure.
How do the playoffs work?
Scotland last played in the World Cup in 1998.
The 12 second-place teams in their group and the top four teams that did not finish in first or second place in the European qualifying group stage of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League will participate in the play-offs.
The 16 teams participating in the playoffs will be divided into four playoff paths of four teams each. The play-off matches will be played as a single-leg semi-final, followed by a single-leg final within the same international window from March 26 to 31 next year.
How many European teams will qualify?
A total of 16 UEFA member nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The 12 group winners will qualify directly to the World Cup. The remaining four spots will be determined by a play-off between the 12 second-place players in the group.
All Scottish players:
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Craig Gordon (Hearts), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dynamo Zagreb), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souter (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Conor Barron (Rangers), Andy Irving (West Ham).
Forwards: Che Adams (Turin), Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham), George Hurst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).
From “head scratchers” to the brink of history
Scotland’s Che Adams scores the first goal against Belarus
Scotland drew with top-seeded Denmark in two qualifying matches to pick up four points, and finished September tied at the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Belarus.
Next up was a double header at Hampden Park, where they took all six points.
Clark’s team came from behind to beat Greece 3-1, then beat Belarus 2-1 to secure a place in the play-offs.
The win against Belarus marked Clark’s record-breaking 72nd game in charge as a national team manager, but after the game he described the performance as “head-scratching”, adding: “I was probably as disappointed as I was in all 72 games.”
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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke admitted his side’s performance in their unconvincing World Cup qualifying win against Belarus was “head-scratching”.
However, Clarke promised to use a “different animal” for the final two games against Greece, who have already been eliminated, and group leaders Denmark.
They have secured a spot in the playoffs, but just two more wins will seal their return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Scotland and Clark are on the brink of making history.
2026 World Cup European Qualification Schedule
Group stage final match dates: November 13-18, 2025 Playoff match dates: March 26-31, 2026 Final tournament dates: June 11-July 19, 2026
When and where will the 2026 World Cup be held?
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The tournament will be held in 16 cities across three North American countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This is the first time that the World Cup will be held in three countries.
The last time the tournament was held in North America was in 1994, when Brazil defeated Italy in a penalty shootout to win the tournament.
The expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than the 2022 edition in Qatar, and will be held across three host countries for the first time.
2026 World Cup Schedule
Group Stage: June 11th-27th
Round of 32: June 28th to July 3rd
Round 16: July 4-7
Quarterfinals: July 9th-11th
Semi-finals: July 14th-15th
3rd place match (“Bronze Final”): July 18th
Last day: July 19th
