Scotland v Belarus 2026 FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifier 12/10/2025. Group C Andy Robertson of Scotland during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier, Scotland vs Belarus, The National Stadium, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, 12/10/2025. Hampden Park The National Stadium Glasgow Scotland Editorial use only , Copyright: xColinxPoultneyx PSI-23023-0087
After 28 years away from the world’s biggest football tournament, Scotland are back at the World Cup and the anticipation is reaching fever pitch.
Steve Clarke’s squad has arrived at their tournament basecamp in Charlotte, North Carolina, setting up at the Atrium Health Performance Park, home of MLS side Charlotte FC.
The facilities have been described as Premier League standard, with pitches compared to putting greens and a hotel considered good enough for Real Madrid.
Charlotte FC’s Scottish technical director Tommy Wilson, aged 64, played a crucial role in Clarke choosing the base, given his history with the Scotland manager at St Mirren.
Charlotte FC is managed by former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith, a friend of Clarke, while Irish first-team coach Gary Dicker previously worked under Clarke at Kilmarnock nine years ago.
Scotland arrive in Charlotte with genuine momentum, having dismantled Bolivia 4-0 in the first half of their final warm-up fixture in New Jersey at the weekend.
Striker Lawrence Shankland, who sealed a move from Hearts to Rangers before the tournament, scored again against Bolivia, adding to his double against Curacao at Hampden the week prior.
Despite his red-hot form, the 30-year-old has refused to take for granted that he will start Sunday’s Group C opener against Haiti in Boston.
Captain Andy Robertson has urged his teammates to embrace the experience, while also warning that preparations must now turn serious as the opening game approaches.
“Every experience we’ve had, you know, a training camp at Inter Miami, playing a game in New Jersey, it’s surreal really,” Robertson said, adding that the mood would shift as the week progressed.
Robertson also made headlines for a gesture before the squad departed for America, presenting each teammate with traditional Scottish items and a personalised letter, a touch Celtic full-back Anthony Ralston described as “amazing.”
Clarke himself has welcomed the heat in South Carolina, saying: “It’s very hot, which is lovely, which is what we wanted,” with similar conditions expected in Boston and Miami for the group games.
However, Scotland’s preparations have not been entirely smooth, with Norway boss Stale Solbakken publicly slamming Clarke’s side as “unprofessional” after a planned closed-door friendly was cancelled without so much as a phone call to him.
Scotland cited injuries as the reason for pulling out of the match, though Solbakken revealed he never received any direct communication from Clarke about the decision.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Group C rivals Morocco have been hit by a double injury blow, with Manchester United defender Noussair Marazoui forced off after just 30 minutes against Norway and wide man Abde Ezzalzoui suffering a knee ligament injury that is expected to rule him out for three to four weeks.
Billy Gilmour has also been dealt a cruel blow, missing the tournament entirely after picking up an injury during the warm-up match against Curacao.
Win their opener against Haiti and Scotland will be firmly in contention to reach the knockout stages for the first time in the nation’s history, a feat no Scotland side has ever achieved.
As correspondent Keith Jackson noted from the ground, these next few days in Charlotte represent the culmination of everything Clarke has been building toward since qualification was secured against Denmark back in November.
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