Scotland will take their place in Pot 3 for the 2026 World Cup draw after a wild 4-2 victory over Denmark secured their return to the finals for the primary time since 1998.
Steve Clarke’s facet sealed high spot in Group C on an evening of excessive drama at Hampden, the place Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean struck in stoppage time to ship Scotland again to the World Cup for the primary time in 27 years.
Participant and supporters alike are positive to have fun into the evening however consideration will rapidly flip to the draw for the North American showcase in a bit of over two weeks.
The draw will happen at 5pm on December 5 on the Kennedy Heart in Washington DC, the place the 48-team match can be mapped out for the primary expanded World Cup throughout the US, Mexico and Canada.
Pot allocations are primarily based on FIFA rankings, with Scotland now confirmed in Pot 3 alongside Norway, Egypt, Algeria, Paraguay and Ivory Coast.
It means Clarke’s males are very more likely to land one of many match’s heavyweights within the group stage. Pot 1 accommodates the likes of Argentina, Spain, France, England, Germany and Portugal.
Scotland will take their place in Pot 3 for the 2026 World Cup draw after a wild 4-2 victory over Denmark
England are among the many 12 high seeds within the draw and can be one of many favourites for the competitors
Subsequent summer season’s match would be the largest World Cup in historical past and can be hosted in three nations. Pictured: (L-R) US President Donald Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
In the meantime, Pot 2 options established match sides together with Croatia, Uruguay, Japan and Switzerland. One staff from every pot will kind a gaggle of 4, with 12 teams in whole on the 2026 finals.
As ever, confederation guidelines apply, guaranteeing that groups from the identical area can’t be drawn collectively other than UEFA, the place a most of two European nations may be positioned in the identical group.
The three host nations, Canada, Mexico and the US, can be assigned to teams A, B and D, respectively.
Scotland’s qualification means Clarke has now led his facet to a few of the final 4 main tournaments, following Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
Skipper Andy Robertson admitted the emotion of the evening would stick with him for all times, whereas John McGinn mentioned he had ‘by no means felt something prefer it in a soccer stadium’.
McGinn added that Scotland have been ‘fairly garbage at instances’ however praised the response after Denmark equalised twice and after a gentle second yellow card for Rasmus Kristensen swung the competition Scotland’s manner.
Lawrence Shankland’s header restored the lead earlier than Tierney and McLean settled it in stoppage time.
Whereas Scotland can now put together for the finals, a number of European nations should nonetheless battle by way of the play-offs.
Troy Parrott’s hat-trick helped the Republic of Eire safe a spot in subsequent yr’s play-offs
Wales may also be vying for a spot in subsequent summer season’s match after clinching a spot within the play-offs
Italy, Denmark, Turkey and Ukraine are the highest seeds, whereas Wales, Poland, Czechia and Slovakia sit in Pot 2.
Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and the Republic of Eire are in Pot 3, with Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia and Northern Eire in Pot 4.
These semi-final paths can be drawn on Thursday. The World Cup play-offs will happen in March 2026 and can consist of 4 ‘paths’, one for every vacant spot on the finals.
