Scotland’s route 2026 World Cup qualification | OneFootball

It was a night that saw two of Scotland’s greatest goals scored on the international stage, both in their quality and consequence.

Scott McTominay’s ridiculous overhead kick, featured on nation’s new £20 bank note, and Kenny McLean’s drive from inside his own half powered Steve Clark’s side to a 4-2 victory over 10-man Denmark to return to a first World Cup in 28 years.

Scotland finished top of group C to mark their participation in the first tournament since 1998 on a night that will live long in the memory, regardless of how far the country goes into the tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Now six months on from that unforgettable night at Hampden Park, FromTheSpot recaps their journey to the 2026 World Cup and who they’ll be facing over the pond.

Scotland’s route to the World Cup

September 5: Denmark 0-0 Scotland

September 8: Belarus 0-2 Scotland

October 9: Scotland 3-1 Greece

October 12: Scotland 2-1 Belarus

November 15: Greece 2-3 Scotland

November 18: Denmark 4-2 Scotland

Scotland began their qualifying campaign in quite the opposite fashion to how it ended, a goalless draw against the ‘Danish Dynamite’, before recording a double over Belarus and Greece to put themselves in prime position for automatic qualification.

The side had strength in their togetherness and found goals from across the side, having nine different goal-scorers and no player registering over two.

Ché Adams, Ryan Christie, and Scott McTominay all chipped in with braces, but it was the Napoli midfielder and his country’s hero on the overhead kick that finished qualifying with three goal involvements – the most among his teammates.

He too led the way with an average rating of 7.44 over the course of qualifying, awarded by Fotmob, with Liverpool wing-back and icon Andy Robertson second, whose two assists ranked top of the assists chart.

All were key players throughout Scotland’s path to the World Cup, and are just as likely to prove invaluable during the tournament itself.

Scotland’s fixtures at the FIFA World Cup 2026

June 14th: Scotland v Haiti – Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts 2am UK time

June 19th: Scotland v Morocco – Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts 11pm UK time

June 24th: Scotland v Brazil – Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida 11pm UK time

Scotland last played in the FIFA World Cup in 1998 in France where they finished bottom of Group A following two losses against Brazil and Morocco and one draw against Norway

They now face a repeat of their 1998 World Cup group-stage with opponents coming up against both Brazil and Morocco once again.

Steve Clark’s men will face Brazil, Morocco and Haiti in the Group stage at the 2026 Fifa World Cup which will be played across America, Mexico and Canada.

With both Brazil and Morocco in the group Scotland would have to win when they meet Haiti in Boston on June 13th.

Haiti return to the World Cup for the second time since 1974, where they failed to get out of the Group, so a win is a vital for either side in their opening clash.

The BBC will broadcast Scotland’s first World Cup match since 1998 when they take on Haiti, the broadcaster will also show televise their final group match against Brazil.

If Scotland can top their Group their route to final will be as follows.

Scotland’s potential knockout stage fixtures at the FIFA World Cup 2026

If Scotland win Group C they would face runners-up in Group F which would be either Japan or Tunisia in Houston.

If they finish as group runners-up, they would instead face the winners of the same group, the favourites the Netherlands in Guadalupe.

Finishing third would mean Scotland would mean they would play the winners of Groups A, E or I decided by which groups provide the third-placed teams progress and how the round 32 bracket is structured.

They could face Group A winners, likely Mexico, Group E, possibility German or Group I winners France.

If Scotland avoid Mexico in Round 32 and are placed on the opposite side of that bracket, they will likely face Germany or France in Philadelphia depending on the knock-out draw or Group stage outcomes.

If Scotland get past the last 16, they would potentially face either the Netherlands or England in the Quarterfinals depending on last 16 results.

If they reached the semis then they would likely face Argentina or Spain depending on results.