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Scotland secure qualification to the World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico with a win over Denmark.
Scotland have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in near 30 years.
Scotland will have to rely on a World Cup play-off for the chance to return the World Cup after a near-three-decade wait.
The Tartan Army will be back on football’s world stage next summer for the first time since France 1998 after Scotland topped Group C and beat out Denmark, Greece and Belarus to automatic qualification.
Scotland defeated Denmark 4-2 tonight in front of a capacity Hampden crowd.
The group commenced in September with a steady goalless draw against the Danes before comfortably beating Belarus 2-0 away in Hungary.
The October meetings saw the National Team batter Greece 3-1 at Hampden and struggle to a 2-1 victory over the Belarusians in Glasgow.
All hopes of automatic qualification were pinned on picking up a draw or win away in Piraeus in order to create a winner takes all tie against Denmark today.
Everything seemed lost as the Scots slipped up against Greece. However, thanks to Belarus securing a draw in Copenhagen, Scotland were given a lifeline.
This meant if Scotland beat the Danes tonight, they would automatically qualify for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Under the guidance of Craig Brown, Scotland sealed their place in the 1998 French World Cup with a hard-fought 2–0 win over Latvia at Celtic Park in October 1997 with Kevin Gallacher and Gordon Durie bagging the goals.
That squad went to France in ’98, but failed to make it out of the group stage – collecting just one point from three matches.
Since then, Scotland have endured six straight failed qualification campaigns. Qualification now sends Scotland to the 2026 World Cup, a tournament that, for the first time, will host 48 teams to give more nations a fighting chance on the world stage.
Under Steve Clarke, Scotland have now qualified for three international tournaments but have yet to win a game at any.
At Euro 2020, played in 2021, Scotland faced England, Croatia and Czech Republic – only securing one point with a goalless draw against the Auld Enemy at Wembley.
In Germany at Euro 2024, Clarke’s men again only won one point, this time with a draw against Switzerland after an embarrassing display against the hosts and a late-defeat versus Hungary.
For the previous World Cup, Scotland came up short following a 3-1 defeat to Ukraine in the Playoff semi-final.
The World Cup 2026 will be held in 16 cities across USA, Canada and Mexico and will kick-off on June 11.
The draw for the group stage will take place in Washington on December 5 and will see President Donald Trump join FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the John F Kennedy Center.
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