Steve Clarke

Steve Clarke led Scotland to a 4-0 warm-up victory over Bolivia on 6 June 2026 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey — Scotland's most commanding pre-tournament performance in modern memory and the first time the side had scored four goals in a first half. Clarke reported no injuries from the squad ahead of the tournament, a significant relief given Scotland's history of pre-tournament fitness concerns.

Clarke took charge of Scotland in May 2019 after a career as a manager that included spells at Kilmarnock, Reading, West Bromwich Albion, and the Israel national side. His greatest achievement is guiding Scotland to consecutive major tournament qualifications for the first time in a generation: Euro 2020 (played 2021), Euro 2024, and now the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first World Cup for Scotland since France 1998. Born 29 August 1963 in Saltcoats, he played for Chelsea, West Brom, Southampton, and the Scottish national side during a 22-cap playing career.

Clarke's management style is pragmatic and defensively disciplined; Scotland's route to this World Cup required grinding qualification points across multiple campaign. The 4-0 rout of Bolivia — with four goals in the first half — suggests the side arrived in North America in genuine form rather than simply relieved to qualify.