The wait is nearly over for Scotland as the draw for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup takes centre stage. For the first time since 1998, the Tartan Army will be present at football's grandest tournament, with Friday's ceremony in Washington DC set to map out their path in North America.
Scotland's Draw Position and Tournament Ambitions
Steve Clarke's squad have been confirmed in Pot 3 for the pivotal draw on Friday, 5 December. This placement offers a crucial advantage, ensuring they avoid many of the globe's highest-ranked nations in the initial group stage. Having qualified for the past two European Championships under Clarke but failing to win a match or advance, the Scots are desperate to make a lasting impact on this 48-team World Cup stage.
The primary objective is clear: progress from the group stages of a major tournament for the first time in the nation's history. The new format, with 12 groups of four, provides a fresh opportunity, and landing a favourable draw is seen as a vital first step towards achieving that historic goal.
Navigating the Pots: Possible Opponents and Key Rules
The draw mechanics will see one team selected from each of four pots to form the 12 groups. Scotland, in Pot 3, will face one team from each of Pots 1, 2, and 4. A significant rule states that no group can contain more than two European nations, meaning Scotland will be drawn against a maximum of one other UEFA side.
From the elite Pot 1, possible opponents include hosts Canada, Mexico, and the USA, alongside European powerhouses like Spain, France, England, and Portugal, plus South American giants Argentina and Brazil.
The Pot 2 selection could bring a clash with nations such as Croatia, Japan, Senegal, Uruguay, or Austria. The final slot, from Pot 4, might see Scotland pitted against nations like Ghana, New Zealand, or one of the European play-off winners, which could include Italy.
Could Scotland Face England?
Yes, a potential 'Auld Enemy' clash is on the cards. With 16 European teams to be spread across 12 groups, four groups will contain two UEFA nations. However, a specific restriction applies: if England were drawn against Croatia, Switzerland, or Austria from Pot 2, they could not then be paired with Scotland from Pot 3.
Dream and Nightmare Scenarios for the Tartan Army
Analysts have already begun sketching out the best and worst-case outcomes for Clarke's men. A dream draw might see them paired with a host nation like Canada from Pot 1, followed by Austria or Australia from Pot 2, and conclude with a theoretically weaker side like Cape Verde or Haiti from Pot 4. Such a group would fuel genuine belief in reaching the knockout rounds.
Conversely, a nightmare scenario would be a brutally tough assignment. This could involve drawing world champions Argentina from Pot 1, a resilient side like Morocco from Pot 2, and then facing a European play-off winner such as Italy from Pot 4. This would represent one of the tournament's toughest groups.
The draw ceremony begins at 5pm GMT on Friday, 5 December, at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, with US President Donald Trump expected to attend. For Scotland, the event marks the start of a long-awaited World Cup journey, with the nation hoping the balls fall kindly to enable a historic campaign.
