Scotland XI vs Morocco: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for World Cup 2026 | OneFootball

Scots eyeing historic victory against dark horses

Scotland have one injury concern going into their huge Group C encounter with Morocco in Foxborough, Massachussetts today.

Steve Clarke is likely to be without defender Scott McKenna once more, with the former Nottingham Forest man nursing a calf injury that kept him out of the 1-0 win over Haiti.

Otherwise, the Scots are at full strength, and it remains to be seen whether Clarke goes for the jugular against the slick Moroccans, or whether he reverts to type and hopes to grind his way to avoiding defeat.

He has switched to a more adventurous 4-4-2 shape in recent weeks and months, incorporating the prolific Lawrence Shankland into his attack to partner Che Adams.

We could see the Charlton target man deployed here ahead of either Shankland or Adams should Clarke want an outball, which is likely considering Morocco are expected to dominate possession.

The big question is whether Scotland move to a back five in order to soak up the inevitable Moroccan pressure, but that could mean sacrificing a striker or a wide man.

Goalscorer: John McGinn

PA Wire

John McGinn, goalscorer against Haiti, is the first name on the teamsheet, so it won’t be him, but Ben Gannon-Doak could be at risk should Clarke plump for wing-backs.

That could mean a start at left-sided centre-back for former Arsenal man Kieran Tierney, tucked into a central defensive trio alongside Jack Hendry and Grant Hanley.

That would see Aaron Hickey pushed on one to right wing-back, with Andy Robertson on the opposite flank.

McGinn would therefore be shifted into the middle of the park, along with the deeper-lying Lewis Ferguson and the box-crashing Scott McTominay.

It would then give Clarke the two strikers he has seemingly preferred of late.

Predicted Scotland XI (3-5-2): Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; Hickey, McTominay, Ferguson, McGinn, Robertson; Dykes, Adams

Doubt: McKenna

Date and time: 11pm BST on Friday, June 19, 2026