Ian Wright has launched a scathing attack on Scottish football bosses, accusing them of "letting down the country" despite the Tartan Army's passionate backing. Speaking as a pundit on ITV's coverage of Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar, the Arsenal legend did not hold back in his assessment of Scotland's performances at the 2026 World Cup.
Scotland's World Cup campaign so far
Scotland have qualified for the knockout stages with a game to spare, as Group C offers three places in the round of 32. However, their performances have been far from convincing. Steve Clarke's side managed a 1-0 win over Haiti, one of the tournament's lowest-ranked teams, but struggled to impress. Against Morocco last Friday, Scotland lost 1-0 and failed to register a single shot on target.
According to Wright, Scotland have had only two shots on target in two games, with none against Morocco. He expressed sympathy for the fans, saying: "I feel sorry for Scotland, I feel sorry for the fans, I feel sorry for everything."
Wright's comparison with Norway
Wright drew a brutal comparison with Norway, a country of similar size to Scotland. He noted that Norway averages six to seven thousand weekly attendance in domestic football, while Scotland averages 16 thousand. Despite this, Norway has secured a broadcast deal worth £25 million more per year than Scotland.
"Obviously they've got a better commercial outfit than them, but at the same time, you look at Scotland and their raw materials. You're looking at amazing attendances, talents, you're looking at storylines, you're looking at grassroots participation," Wright said.
Call for bolder vision
Wright urged Scottish football executives to do more, stating: "Somebody in Scotland is letting down this country on a massive scale. Very proud of them, all over the world, tourists...they've got to do more. There's got to be a bolder, braver vision for Scottish football for me."
The comments come as Scotland prepare for their final group stage match, with fans hoping for improved performances in the knockout rounds.
