Scotland

Scotland's national football team returned to the FIFA World Cup in 2026, ending a 28-year absence that stretched back to France 1998, their previous appearance at football's largest stage. Manager Steve Clarke guided them through three consecutive major tournament qualifications (Euro 2020, Euro 2024, World Cup 2026), the most sustained run of achievement in modern Scottish football history. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, at 43 years and 162 days old at kickoff, became the oldest player in the entire 2026 tournament and the oldest keeper ever to feature at a World Cup. Scotland were drawn into Group c alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. They beat Haiti in their opener, recording a win that gave hope of progression, but defeats to Morocco and Brazil Left them third in the group on 3 points, enough only to wait on best third-place calculations. Coach Steve Clarke confirmed he was "heading home", leaving the question of his tenure open. The squad had genuine competitive assets: a midfield built around Scott McTominay (Napoli), a reliable forward partnership between Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams, and a goalkeeping depth that ranked among the tournament's most experienced. Their final warm-up had been a 4-0 win over Bolivia on 6 June 2026 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, with all four goals scored in the first half, a first in Scotland's international history per Opta. The 2026 campaign represents a watershed regardless of outcome. Scotland arrived having qualified for three consecutive major tournaments and with a squad depth that would have been unimaginable during the 1999-2020 qualifying drought. Whether Clarke's tenure continues, the standard has shifted for what the Scottish game expects of its national team.