Scotland

Scotland enter World Cup 2026 in Group C, where the early tests are Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. Scotland have never won the World Cup and have never advanced beyond the first round, despite a proud history of finals appearances. Their task is to turn competitiveness into a long-awaited knockout breakthrough. The current squad is shaped around Andrew Robertson, Scott McTominay, and John McGinn, a core that gives the team recognizable quality in the moments that usually decide group-stage matches: set pieces, transition attacks, and pressure around the box.

For this tournament, the assignment is both tactical and psychological: start quickly, protect the middle of the pitch, and make the group feel uncomfortable before the knockout picture forms. Group C is unforgiving, but Scotland have enough Premier League-tested leadership to make matches rugged. A strong midfield platform and clean set-piece execution would keep them alive. If Scotland can turn its best individual stretches into a full 90-minute platform, the campaign has room to grow beyond a simple participation story.