The road to glory for Scotland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been laid out, with the tournament draw in Washington DC revealing the Tartan Army's group stage opponents and a potential route all the way to the final.
Steve Clarke's side, ending a 28-year World Cup absence after a dramatic last-gasp qualification victory over Denmark, now know the challenges that await them in North America.
Group C Showdown: A Daunting Opening Phase
Scotland have been drawn in Group C, setting up a formidable but thrilling set of fixtures. Their campaign will begin against Haiti on 13 June 2026, with the match set for either Gillette Stadium in Foxborough or MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The second group game sees them face Morocco on 18 June in Philadelphia or Foxborough, before a blockbuster final group match against five-time champions Brazil on 24 June in Miami or Atlanta.
All eyes will be on Napoli star Scott McTominay, whose goals were instrumental in qualification, to lead the charge as Scotland seeks its first-ever win at a major tournament finals.
Knockout Stage Projections: A Path Paved with Giants
Should Scotland progress from the group, their theoretical journey through the knockout stages becomes a fascinating prospect. For the purpose of projection, assuming a second-place finish in Group C sets up a round of 32 clash with the Netherlands on 29 June in Guadalupe.
Victory there could lead to a round of 16 meeting with South Korea on 4 July in Houston. The stakes would then be raised significantly in a potential quarter-final against footballing heavyweights France on 9 July at Gillette Stadium.
The hypothetical path continues with a semi-final against Spain in Dallas on 14 July, culminating in a dream final showdown with Argentina on 19 July at MetLife Stadium.
Alternative Routes and the Auld Enemy
The tournament's expanded format means a third-place finish could also see Scotland advance, where they would face a group winner from either A, E, or I. Notably, in this projected scenario where England win their group, the earliest the historic rivals could meet would be in the final itself.
While the draw presents a monumental challenge, for the Tartan Army and a nation starved of World Cup success, the dream is very much alive. The journey from dramatic qualification to potential glory begins in June 2026.
