The 2026 World Cup draw has handed Scotland a familiar challenge, with Steve Clarke's side set to face Brazil in the group stage for the fifth time in their last seven appearances at the tournament. Scotland will also meet Morocco and Haiti in next summer's finals.
Clarke described the group as a "great group" and expressed relief at avoiding European opposition. "I didn't want any European teams, I wanted teams from different continents and we got that," he said. The Scotland boss noted that Brazil and Morocco were the teams that beat his country the last time they qualified, back in 1998, adding: "So hopefully this time we can do a little bit better against them."
Elsewhere, Canada manager Jesse Marsch has welcomed the prospect of renewing hostilities with Wales boss Craig Bellamy, should Wales come through their qualifying play-off. The pair were involved in a bust-up when the nations met in a friendly earlier this year. Marsch said Bellamy had wanted to play Canada, and acknowledged the qualifying group also contains Bosnia and Northern Ireland. He added that Italy will be expected to advance, "but it's not going to be easy for Italy."
The draw also produced a heavyweight clash between France and Norway, setting up a potential meeting between two of the world's most prolific strikers, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. France's group also includes Senegal, making it a particularly tough section.
