Scotland claimed their first victory in World Cup 2026 qualifying Group C with a 2-0 win over Belarus in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. Che Adams opened the scoring before an own goal sealed the result, giving Steve Clarke's side a solid start to their campaign.
The match, played behind closed doors due to geopolitical reasons, saw Scotland dominate possession but struggle to break down a stubborn Belarus defence. Adams broke the deadlock midway through the first half, finishing clinically after a well-worked move. The second goal came early in the second half when a cross from the left was turned into his own net by a Belarus defender.
Clarke praised his team's patience and professionalism after the match. 'When they changed their shape and personnel, it took us a while to work out what balls were going to work tonight. We just kept being patient and once we got through, we looked good,' he said. 'We wanted to stay professional in the second half and thankfully got the second goal.'
The manager also singled out young debutant Lennon Miller, who came on late for Scott McTominay. 'Gannon-Doak doesn’t need too much looking after. He’s a special talent, very exciting. I only had to tell him off a couple of times. All four of our subs were excellent,' Clarke added.
The result leaves Scotland with four points from their opening two qualifiers, following a goalless draw in Denmark on Friday. That result now looks particularly valuable after Denmark thrashed Greece 3-0 in Athens, putting Scotland level on points with the Danes at the top of the group. Scotland's next qualifier is at Hampden Park against Greece, who will be desperate to bounce back from their heavy defeat.
