Need to Know: Who Can Scotland Play After World Cup Group Stages? State of Play After Morocco Defeat
Scotland's hopes of progressing at World Cup 2026 were dealt a blow in their 1-0 defeat to Morocco as Steve Clarke's side prepare to face Brazil.
Scotland lost 1-0 to Morocco at World Cup 2026.
Every Team Scotland Could Play If They Make It Past the World Cup 2026 Group Stages
Morocco loss: Scotland suffered a tight 1-0 defeat to Morocco in their second Group C fixture after conceding a spectacular second-minute goal to Ismael Saibari. Despite late pressure, Steve Clarke's men were unable to break through the resolute Moroccan defence.
Haiti win: Thankfully, their opening 1-0 victory over Haiti means they already have three points on the board. This crucial early win leaves them relatively well placed to secure a spot in the tournament's knockout stages, so we take a look at who they could face if they progress.
Third-Place Outlook
If Scotland finish third in the group, where they presently sit and are most likely to end up, they must rely on being one of the eight best third-placed sides to progress. If they get through under this scenario, they are theoretically slated to face the winners of either Group A, Group E or Group I.
Group A: The most likely threat from Group A would be the co-hosts Mexico, who currently lead their group with a maximum six points. If there is a major shake-up, South Korea could also emerge as a potential opponent.
Group E: Should they meet the Group E winner, Scotland's most formidable and likely opponent would be Germany. However, they could also theoretically face the Ivory Coast or Ecuador, depending on the final group results.
Group I: A matchup with the Group I winner presents another daunting task, with France tipped to take the group. Alternatively, they could find themselves facing Erling Haaland's clinical Norway side or a dangerous Senegal team.
Second-Place Scenario
But if Scotland manage to finish second in Group C and jump above either Brazil or Morocco, their knockout path is locked into a single fixture. They would travel to Monterrey, Mexico, to take on whoever finishes as the winner of Group F.
Dutch prospect: Their highest-ranked and most probable opponent in that second-place path would be the Netherlands. However, they could also theoretically face Japan, Sweden or Tunisia, depending on who tops that tight group.
Group Toppers
In the event that Scotland beat Brazil (and Morocco fail to beat Haiti) and they sensationally finish first in Group C, they will advance to play the runner-up of Group F. This hypothetical knockout clash would take place in Houston, Texas.
A pool of four: Their opponent in this first-place scenario would again be drawn from the competitive pool of the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden or Tunisia. Facing the runner-up means they would likely avoid whichever of those high-ranked sides wins the group outright.
Final Game
Scotland's fate will ultimately be decided in their final group match against the heavyweight giants, Brazil. This massive encounter will take place on June 24 at Miami Stadium in Florida.
READ MORE: Scotland told referee missed clear penalty in World Cup VAR drama as Scott McTominay fumes
