Scotland 4-2 Denmark

Scotland will be in the World Cup!

Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean were heroics in stoppage time as Scotland defeated Denmark 4-2 in the 10-a-side competition to secure automatic qualification.

After winning back-to-back European Championships, head coach Steve Clarke will once again lead his country to football’s biggest tournament for the first time since 1998.

Scotland knew that winning was all that mattered. Scott McTominay put Scotland ahead just three minutes later with a stunning bicycle kick.

Denmark needed just a draw to top the group, and Rasmus Højlund, who had been denied a goal in the first half, equalized from the penalty spot after a lengthy VAR check for Andy Robertson’s foul on Gustav Isaksen.

With Rasmus Christensen’s second goal leaving the Danes down to 10 men, Lawrence Shankland came off the bench to put the Scots back in front, but Patrick Dawg equalized again minutes later.

The nation believed, and that dream became a reality, as Tierney scored the opening goal at 3-2 from outside the penalty area in the second minute of stoppage time.

Then, as the clock ticked well past six minutes of first stoppage time, MacLean lobbed Kasper Schmeichel from the halfway line. Kasper Schmeichel went wide of the area in a last-ditch effort to force a draw.

His shot went past the Danish goalkeeper and into an empty net, making it 4-2 and sparking scenes of excitement inside Hampden Park.

Scotland is back!

dreams become reality

Sky Sports’ Alison Conroy was at Hampden Park.

Steve Clarke has made no secret of his desire to lead Scotland to the World Cup, even after missing out as a player.

He was the epitome of calm on the touchline as McTominay’s shocking strike sent the Tartans into jubilation.

Scots are often associated with glorious failure, but this was a campaign full of grit, drive and a bit of luck.

Saturday’s match against Greece ended their unbeaten run, but Belarus handed the Scots a lifeline with a draw in Copenhagen.

It’s been six and a half years in the making, and this team deserves all the praise it can get.

For most people, this will be their third major tournament, but it’s special to play in a World Cup.

Forget about Champions League medals, titles and cups. This is on a different level.

Clarke praises quality of Scotland’s goals

Scotland national team coach Clark was surprised by the quality of Scotland’s goals, which have secured them a spot in next summer’s World Cup.

McTominay scored a sensational overhead kick early on and substitute Tierney scored a stunning goal from outside the box to put Scotland 3-2 up in stoppage time. MacLean then lobbed Schmeichel from the halfway line with the final kick of the match, sealing Scotland’s famous victory.

“Scott McTominay scored the best overhead kick I’ve ever seen, but it might not have been the best goal of the night!” Clarke told the BBC.

“There were a lot of emotions, highs and lows. Sometimes we were looking for solutions and thinking about how we could change it. We knew at some stage we had to go two points forward.”

“We felt the Danes were controlling us a little bit. We thought it was a good time (to make a change). Whether they (the boys) were 10 or 11, we were going to do it.”

“I spoke to Kieran before the first game. He’s an important player for me, he’s one of my boys. I’ve got a lot of players, we had 14 involved in the play-off game. I said, ‘Listen, Aaron Hickey can’t play back-to-back games. I can see you coming in at right-back and doing really well for us.’

“I’m not sure if he had envisioned a goal, but when the ball rolled back onto his left foot, I knew he was going to score.

“When Kenny hit it, I thought, “What are you doing?” But when I saw it fly, I thought, “This is going in!” ’ I thought.”

In pictures: Scotland’s stunning goal

Robertson pays moving tribute to Diogo Jota

Scotland captain Andy Robertson admitted he was “nearly heartbroken” after remembering his former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota as he became emotional ahead of Scotland’s victory over Denmark, which qualified them for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

“I’ve hidden it well, but I didn’t feel well today. I know my age. This could be my last chance to play in the World Cup,” he told the BBC.

“I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my mind today. We talked a lot about the World Cup.

“He was out with injury last time and I was out because Scotland didn’t qualify, but we always talked about what it would be like to go to the World Cup.

“I had a little trouble in my room earlier, and I think I hid it well from the boys.

“He’ll be smiling at me somewhere tonight. I couldn’t get him out of my head all day.”

“That sums up this team. We’re never going to say we’re going to die. We’re just going to keep going until the end,” added Robertson, who fought back with two goals in stoppage time in the second half to seal their place in the World Cup.

“One of the craziest games in soccer. We certainly put the country through this game, but I’m sure it was worth it. We’re going to the World Cup and it’s unbelievable.”

“This group of players and staff is the best group I’ve ever been involved with. The coach’s speech in the hotel before the game was unbelievable.

“He had the great moments that we had. He said, ‘Let’s do it again.’ For him, for all the staff, for all the family, it was one of the best nights of my life.”

The 2026 World Cup draw will be held on December 5th in Washington.

President Trump will join FIFA President Gianni Infantino to determine group stage brackets at the John F. Kennedy Center, the performing arts venue where Trump is chairman.

When announcing the lottery venue at the White House in August, President Trump said the World Cup was “the biggest event in sports,” while Infantino declared the 104 games would be like “the 104th Super Bowl.”

The draw will take place from 12pm local time (5pm UK time).

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

This will be the 23rd tournament.