Scotland at the World Cup 2026: Can the Tartan Army escape Group C?
After 28 years away, Scotland are back at football's biggest stage. Drawn with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti, the real prize is a round-of-32 ticket.
For the first time since France 1998, Scotland are at a World Cup. Steve Clarke's side ended a 28-year wait on a delirious Hampden Park night in November 2025, beating Denmark 4-2 to win their qualifying group, sparked by a Scott McTominay overhead kick and sealed late by Kenny McLean (Sky Sports). Clarke, who has now signed on through 2030, has taken Scotland to three straight major tournaments after Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
The draw was almost poetic, and almost cruel. Scotland land in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti — and Brazil, Morocco and Scotland were drawn together back in 1998 too, when the Scots lost both meetings (Wikipedia). This time the maths of the 48-team format helps: the top two go through automatically, and the eight best third-placed sides also reach the round of 32. Realistically, that third-place lifeline is Scotland's target.
Clarke can lean on genuine Premier League and Serie A quality. Captain Andy Robertson anchors things from Liverpool, McTominay arrives off a Serie A player-of-the-year campaign at Napoli, and John McGinn brings Aston Villa drive in midfield. Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Kieran Tierney (Celtic) and forward Che Adams (Torino) round out a side that, while ranked around 36th in the world, is well-organised, hard to beat and dangerous from set pieces (ESPN).
The schedule frames everything. Scotland open against Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium, face Morocco there on June 19, then close out against Brazil in Miami on June 24 (FIFA fixtures). Win the opener against Haiti, take something off Morocco, and the group is suddenly alive going into the Brazil finale. Drop points early and the margin disappears fast.
Let's be honest about expectations: our model treats Scotland as a clear longshot for the trophy, and the squeeze of Group C means even the round of 32 is no formality. But Clarke's record at tournaments and Scotland's set-piece threat give them a puncher's chance of sneaking through. See how the numbers shake out in our World Cup 2026 predictions, then run Group C yourself in the simulator.
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