Scotland

Scotland are competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their first World Cup since France 1998 — ending a 28-year absence from football's largest stage. Their final warm-up before the tournament produced a remarkable 4-0 win over Bolivia on 6 June 2026 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey: all four goals came in the first half, a first in Scotland's international history per Opta. Lawrence Shankland opened the scoring on five minutes, Scott McTominay added the second on 23, and Che Adams scored twice either side of half-time. Manager Steve Clarke reported no injuries.

Scotland's squad for the 2026 tournament is historically notable for its age range and experience. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, at 43 years and 162 days old at kickoff, is the oldest player in the entire tournament — the oldest keeper ever to feature at a World Cup. The squad was built through Clarke's consecutive qualification campaigns: Euro 2020, Euro 2024, and now the World Cup, making this the most sustained period of major tournament qualification in Scotland's modern history.

Scotland's group stage opponents and schedule in North America will determine whether this tournament is a historic first-round exit or the beginning of a genuine World Cup era. The side's depth in midfield — built around McTominay — and a reliable goalscoring partnership between Shankland and Adams represent real competitive assets.