By Alexandra Whyte
Scotland’s historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 hangs in the balance ahead of the 24 June match against five-time champions Brazil.
Nearly 30 years since Scotland last participated in the FIFA World Cup, the team faces a nail-biting final match to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in the country’s history.
Their last opponents in Group C are Brazil, and are the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history.
They are currently riding the high of a 3-0 win over Haiti on June 20.
Scotland’s performance
Scotland manager Steve Clarke may choose to play more defensively in this deciding match, as a narrow loss would keep the dream alive longer than a massive defeat.
However, Craig Levein, who managed the Scotland national team from 2009-2012, told Sky Sports: “This is not one of the great Brazil sides. They have some very good players in their team but they are not invincible.
“If we can put on a really good, cohesive performance and fight right until the end then we have got a great chance of qualifying for the next round.”
There are several routes to the next round of the FIFA World Cup, but a win could help secure a top-two finish in the group stage.
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History could be made
This would be the furthest Scotland have ever advanced in the FIFA World Cup, with the Celtic nation having competed in only nine FIFA World Cups and never qualifying past the group stages.
The hope is still alive with a third-place finish because, for the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the top eight third-place finishers in each group will also qualify for the next stage.
Scotland is currently second place in that group, only one place behind Sweden, who are top of the third place rankings because they have scored more goals across the tournament.
Tartan Army
The historic performance of Scotland has not just hit home for many of its national supporters, but has also gained international recognition.
The Tartan Army, the name given to the Scottish football fans, have made their mark in Boston, New England, and Miami, Florida, throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the spirit of the FIFA World Cup.
This spirit has been recognised by the Boston Globe, one of America’s most prestigious newspapers, with a letter penned to the Army being printed on a full page in its June 19 edition.
It reads: “Dear Tartan Army, “You came for the World Cup, but gave us something more.
“For a week, you turned train stations into sing-alongs, Fenway into a football ground, and an ordinary June into something we’ll be talking about for years.
“Boston has hosted championships, parades, and celebrations of every kind. But we’ve never hosted guests quite like you all.
“Thank you for the laughter, the bagpipes and the memories. The World Cup will move on. So will the songs, but we’ll never forget the joy you brought to our city.”
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