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 hopes of progressing at the World Cup have taken another devastating hit after Senegal’s emphatic win over Iraq on Thursday night.
The result sent Steve Clarke’s side tumbling out of the top eight third-place sides, leaving the Tartan Army facing likely elimination from the tournament.
Scotland had already suffered a brutal reality check earlier in the week when Brazil steamrollered Clarke’s men in a commanding 3-0 victory.
That heavy defeat left Scotland clinging on with just three points and a minus three goal difference, needing results elsewhere to go their way.
Instead, almost every result on Thursday night and into Friday morning went against the Scots, compounding their misery significantly.
AFCON champions Senegal put in a devastating performance against Iraq, with Habib Diarra getting the scoring underway after just four minutes.
Iraq’s task was made even harder when Rebin Sulanka was shown a red card in the first half, leaving them with ten men for much of the contest.
Ismaila Sarr added a second before Papa Gueye netted twice in the second half, with Iliman Ndiaye coming off the bench to complete the rout.
The result has placed Scotland among just four third-place sides who currently will not advance to the last 32 of the competition.
Scotland could be officially eliminated in the early hours of Saturday morning if Uruguay avoid defeat against Spain and Iran earn a draw or beat Egypt.
For any hope to remain, Clarke’s men need four separate group results to fall perfectly into place across five still-decisive groups this weekend.
Croatia’s Luke Modric and his teammates would need to lose to Ghana by three or more goals for them to drop out of the leading eight.
Austria could do Scotland a significant favour by defeating Algeria by two or more goals in their upcoming Group J clash.
DR Congo not winning their match against Uzbekistan is also among the results Scotland desperately need to go their way.
Scotland’s journey in this World Cup remains technically alive, but the odds are firmly stacked against the Tartan Army surviving into the knockout rounds.
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