Scotland's national football team has been handed a blockbuster but challenging group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, setting up a dream clash with footballing giants Brazil.
A Daunting Group C Awaits
The draw, conducted on Friday, 5 December 2025, placed Steve Clarke's side in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. This pits the Scots against the record five-time world champions, the impressive African semi-finalists from 2022, and a Haitian team making their first World Cup appearance in nearly 50 years.
Scotland's campaign will begin against Haiti on 13 June 2026. The spotlight will then fall on a highly anticipated match against Brazil on 19 June, before the group stage concludes with a fixture against Morocco on 24 June.
Host Cities and Tournament Format
The matches are slated to be played in major cities across the United States, with Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Miami, and Atlanta all listed as potential host venues for Scotland's Group C encounters. The full and finalised match schedule is due to be confirmed on Saturday, 6 December.
The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, will run from 11 June to 19 July. It introduces a radically expanded format featuring 48 teams. Crucially, 32 teams will progress to the knockout phase, including the eight best third-placed finishers from the initial groups.
Potential Route to the Final
Should Scotland navigate their way out of Group C, a theoretical knockout stage path has been mapped out. Progressing as group winners or runners-up could see them face the Netherlands in the round of 32.
Advancing further would potentially lead to a monumental clash with European powerhouses like France or Spain in the latter rounds, offering Steve Clarke's men a formidable but thrilling challenge if they are to make a deep run in the competition.
This draw represents a significant moment for Scottish football, offering a mix of iconic fixtures and stern tests as they aim to make their mark on the world's biggest stage.
