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
Scotland stand on the brink of making history as they prepare to face five-time World Cup winners Brazil at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Steve Clarke’s men arrive at this crucial Group C fixture following a 1-0 defeat to Morocco in Boston, leaving them with three points and a goal difference of zero.
A win or draw against Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil side would almost certainly send Scotland into the round of 32 for the first time in their history.
Even a defeat may not end Scotland’s tournament, with the eight best third-placed finishers across all groups also advancing to the knockout stage.
Alan Shearer, speaking in his role as a Betfair ambassador, urged Scotland to take inspiration from Cape Verde and Ghana heading into this mouthwatering encounter.
Shearer said: “We saw Cape Verde going against Spain in their first game and frustrate Spain and get the result that they wanted, and Scotland are going to have to do something similar.”
The former England striker added: “It’s not the Brazil of 20, 30, 40 years ago. It’s a very different Brazil. But they have still got quality players who can open you up and who can damage you. And Scotland will have to be very, very wary of that.”
Shearer predicted a 2-1 or 3-1 defeat for Scotland, but acknowledged that a single win elsewhere in the group standings could still be enough to see them through.
Clarke has also been forced to prepare contingency plans should electrical storms disrupt proceedings at the Miami venue, with local forecasters predicting lightning activity from around 7pm local time.
Clarke said: “You saw the France game delayed by the weather and that was the first time it’s happened in the tournament. Looking at the forecast tomorrow it is possible that there will be some rain disruptions. We have a strategy in mind on how to deal with it.”
France’s 3-0 win over Iraq in Philadelphia was previously held up for more than two hours, with play suspended during half time before officially resuming at 8:00pm ET.
Clarke added: “You have to wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike and that can just roll on and on. If there is to be a delay then hopefully it can be a short one.”
Off the pitch, some Scotland fans have been left devastated after falling victim to ticket scams ahead of the match, with supporters spending hundreds of pounds on fraudulent purchases.
Callum Cunningham, a diehard Scotland fan seated with his wife in a Miami hotel, said: “I looked on alternative re-sale site Gettickets365. These prices were on par with Fifa so I thought it was legitimate.”
Cunningham spent £600 on two tickets that never arrived, having already spent £8,000 on his trip to the United States, and will now watch the game in a fanzone.
Adding a surreal dimension to the evening, Brazilian spiritualist Vó Bahiana has warned of a mass alien abduction at Hard Rock Stadium, claiming extraterrestrials will descend onto the pitch and take up to 700 people including fans, workers, and players.
Bahiana urged people to stay away from the venue, saying: “Do not go to the stadium in Miami on June 24, 2026. Stay away.”
Scotland supporters responded to the prediction with characteristic humour, with one fan joking: “Make sure ‘alien abduction’ is covered on your travel insurance.”
Another quipped: “If they take all the Brazilian players then we win,” while a further supporter warned: “If they’re taking 24 Scotland supporters they better have sufficient beer supplies or it’s gonna kick off.”
Despite the distractions, the Tartan Army has descended on Miami in huge numbers, and Clarke’s players know that a famous result tonight could rewrite Scottish football history forever.
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