Scotland v Morocco – Our 28 year wait for World Cup Finals payback | OneFootball

Scotland v Morocco, FIFA World Cup – Friday, 19 June 2025 – 6pm kick off local time, (11pm kick off UK time). Boston Stadium, Boston…

Tommy Boyd of Scotland passes the ball during the FIFA World Cup Finals 1998 Group A match between Morocco and Scotland held on June 23, 1998 at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, in St Etienne, France. Morocco won the match 3-0. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Scotland return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, where they faced both Morocco and Brazil in the group stage. This matchup has historical resonance, as the two nations last met at the finals in France 1998, with Morocco winning 3–0 in Saint-Étienne — a result that still lingers in Scottish football regrets.

Steve Clarke will see this game as pivotal to his side’s chances of progressing to the knockout rounds; with Brazil widely tipped to win the group, the head-to-head against Morocco could decide who joins them beyond the group stage with NonGamStopBets betting sites offering generous odds on Scotland, with the backing of  the massive Tartan Army, getting the qualification job done with a game to spare by defeating Morocco.

France 1998- June 23: St.Etienne, Scotland 0-3 Morocco. (Photo by Marcus Brandt Bongarts/Getty Images)

Coming off a strong qualifying campaign and a long absence from the finals, Scotland are dangerous underdogs carrying both momentum and belief into the finals. The Scotland Manager’s side will compete with confidence, aiming to make the match tight and stuffy to frustrate the North Africans.

Reaction to the draw has been mixed: there’s some excitement t but also realism that a positive result against Morocco will be hard-earned to say the least.

23 June 1998: Morocco line up before the World Cup group A game against Scotland at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in St Etienne, France. Morocco won 3-0. Photo: Mark Thompson /Allsport

Morocco Manager Walid Regragui will certainly fancy their chances against the Scots. His side is among the tournament’s strong contenders from, entering on the back of reaching the 2022 World Cup semifinals and dominating their qualifying group. They boast a deep squad with seasoned European-based talent — players like Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Díaz are key threats.

Comparatively, Morocco enter this game as clear favourites given higher world rankings and recent global performance but the Scotland result against Denmark will have been noted by Regragui.

23 June 1998: Jim Leighton of Scotland lies distraught after the World Cup group A game against Morocco at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in St Etienne, France. Scotland lost 3-0 and failed to qualify for the knockout stages. Photo: Mark Thompson /Allsport

Scottish media widely described Scotland’s Group C as extremely difficult with Morocco seen as a potential obstacle similar to 1998. Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said the Morocco result from 1998 still left ‘scars’ and called the prospect of revenge a tempting thought.  Former Scotland captain Scott Brown echoed that beating Haiti is crucial and elevated Morocco to the level of Brazil in group danger. James McFadden described the group as ‘tough,’ noting Morocco as the most serious test after Brazil.

23 June 1998: Scotland fans relax before the World Cup group A game against Morocco at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in St Etienne, France. Scotland lost 3-0. Photo: Mark Thompson /Allsport

Some have painted the Morocco tie as more than just another group match, offering a chance for Scotland to avenge the 1998 result. However it will not be easy. Analysts point out that Morocco’s current squad is actually stronger and more consistent than in 1998, framing them as a possible winners of Group C.

23 June 1998: A Scotland fan catches some sleep before the World Cup group A game against Morocco at the Stade Goeffroy Guichard in St Etienne, France. Scotland lost 3-0. Photo: Doug Pensinger /Allsport

But in the qualifiers analysts were saying similar things about both Greece and Denmark but it was actually Scotland who emerged as group winners. Both Morocco and Brazil should take note.

At the 1998 World Cup in France, Morocco defeated Scotland 3–0 in their final group game, with Salaheddine Bassir netting twice and Abdeljalil Hadda also scoring. The victory helped Morocco advance while Scotland were eliminated.

That match is still frequently referenced in the context of Scotland’s long absence from World Cup Finals. Morocco’s win highlighted their efficiency and tactical organisation while Scotland’s defence was exposed that day, including a red card that disrupted the team’s discipline.

Fast-forward to 2026, and both nations find themselves sharing a group again — a rare full-circle moment that adds emotional weight to the fixture.

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