Following the confirmation of Denmark as the final team in Group C, Scotland’s path for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has been set.
The national team will face Denmark, Greece, and Belarus in a series of fixtures spanning from September to November 2025.
The schedule is as follows:
Denmark vs Scotland – September 5, 2025 (Away)
Belarus vs Scotland – September 8, 2025 (Away)
Scotland vs Greece – October 9, 2025 (Home)
Scotland vs Belarus – October 12, 2025 (Home)
Greece vs Scotland – November 15, 2025 (Away)
Scotland vs Denmark – November 18, 2025 (Home)
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The 12 group winners qualify directly for the World Cup; the four remaining berths are determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up. This means Scotland must either top Group C or navigate a play-off route to reach the tournament, set to be hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
However, the announcement comes at a troubling time for the national team. On Sunday, Scotland suffered a demoralising 3-0 defeat to Greece at a sold-out Hampden Park, resulting in their relegation from Section A of the UEFA Nations League.
The loss has intensified scrutiny on manager Steve Clarke, with sections of the Tartan Army expressing dissatisfaction and calling for his departure.
Despite the setback, he remains focused on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, emphasising the need for a strong response: “We’ve had a decent run. This is a bump in the road… It’s how you react to it.”
Vice-captain John McGinn simply labelled the 3-0 scoreline in the Nations League play-off second leg as "embarrassing."
As Scotland prepares for these crucial fixtures, the pressure mounts on Clarke and his squad to deliver performances that can reignite the supporters’ faith and secure a place on football’s biggest stage for the first time since France 1998.
