Scotland v Belarus 2026 FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifier 12/10/2025. Group C Andy Robertson 3 - Scotland during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Scotland and Belarus at Hampden Park, Glasgow, United Kingdom on 12 October 2025. Editorial use only , Copyright: xRaymondxDaviesx PSI-23024-0049
Scotland’s World Cup dream hangs by the slenderest of threads after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil in Miami left the nation staring at an early exit.
Steve Clarke’s side finished third in Group C with three points and a goal difference of minus three, sliding to sixth among the 12 third-placed teams.
Only the top eight third-placed teams advance, meaning Scotland desperately need at least four of eight possible results across the weekend to go in their favour.
Remarkably, a 1-0 win over Haiti, combined with defeats for Morocco and Brazil, could still see Scotland make history and reach the last 32 for the first time.
Both manager Steve Clarke and captain John McGinn have conceded that the team expects to be heading home when the dust settles on the group stage.
ESPN pundit Craig Burley was particularly scathing, questioning whether Scotland even deserve to progress given the level they have shown throughout the tournament.
“It’s kind of second-rate, isn’t it? They just don’t have the players of yesteryear. They’ve got a couple,” Burley said, pulling no punches in his assessment.
“If they go through, fine. But there should be no celebration if this is the first ever Scotland team to qualify for the group stage because it’s just really by default,” he added.
Fellow ESPN analyst Steve Nicol echoed those concerns, arguing the expanded World Cup format is being undermined by teams advancing who have not earned their place.
“A World Cup is supposed to be the elite. It’s the medal that every single player wants to win more than any other regardless of what country you play in,” Nicol said.
“And it’s been devalued when there are certain teams who are going to be going through who just don’t deserve to be there,” he continued, delivering a blunt verdict on the tournament’s credibility.
Former Aberdeen and Scotland defender Willie Miller offered a more measured take, acknowledging the effort shown by Clarke’s players even when the game was beyond them.
“This team give everything for the jersey and you can’t point the finger at them as giving up. Even at 3-0 down there are still driving forward and creating opportunities,” Miller said.
Miller highlighted Scott McTominay as Scotland’s main attacking threat while suggesting Lawrence Shankland struggled without adequate service up front throughout the contest.
“When Kieran Tierney came on, I thought that left-hand side was really potent. But our issue has been the lack of goals,” Miller noted, identifying Scotland’s persistent attacking deficiency.
Pat Nevin praised the travelling Tartan Army for staying in large numbers after the final whistle and applauding a squad that refused to down tools despite the heavy scoreline.
“There was absolutely no lack of effort from those Scotland players, and they knew at 2/3-0, and the way we lost the goals, they didn’t give up,” Nevin said.
“It’s probably not going to be enough, but it’s probably going to go to the wire. And we won’t know for days,” he added, summarising the agonising wait ahead for Scottish football fans.
Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva said he expected considerably more from Scotland, particularly from a defensive standpoint given their reputation for defensive organisation going into the tournament.
“I thought Scotland started quite well but as long as the game went, I think Brazil always controlled the game and forced Scotland to make mistakes,” Leiva said.
Scotland now face an anxious wait stretching across several days before knowing whether their historic first World Cup knockout appearance will become reality or remain a near miss.
About the Author
