Scotland v Belarus 2026 FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifiers Andy Robertson of Scotland during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Group C match at Hampden Park, Glasgow UK Newspapers OUT Copyright: xFredxPalmerx FIL-22351-0159
The nerves hit early on Sunday morning, at precisely 7:42am, long before the plane had even left the tarmac at Glasgow Airport.
Driving along the M8 toward the terminal, an electronic motorway sign carried a simple but loaded message directed at Steve Clarke’s squad: “Go for it Scotland.”
The butterflies arrived instantly, a physical reminder that this once-in-a-lifetime trip to the World Cup in the USA was no longer just a plan on paper.
Palms got sweatier, mouths dried up, and legs began to tremble, despite the fact that the journey ahead involved covering the tournament for Record Sport, not playing in it.
Check-in at the airport brought its own moment of doubt, when a BA desk worker started asking pointed questions about the return flight home, as though Scotland’s early elimination was already pencilled in.
After a stopover in London, the flight continued on to Fort Lauderdale, where Scotland is based for training this week ahead of the tournament proper.
On board the plane, the movie Saipan filled the time, telling the story of Roy Keane’s infamous falling-out with Mick McCarthy before the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
The Manchester United legend had been deeply unhappy with the Republic of Ireland’s facilities and ultimately walked out of camp before a single competitive ball was kicked.
Given that Scotland will train at Inter Miami’s $60 million complex, which Lionel Messi uses daily and which David Beckham helped fund, a similar controversy seems unlikely to emerge from Scott McTominay or Andy Robertson.
Landing in Florida brought its own surprise, as torrential rain, lightning, and conditions described as closer to Motherwell than Miami greeted the arriving journalists at the exit doors.
The weather channel was reporting a record high of 101 degrees for Fort Lauderdale, with the humidity described as feeling closer than “having big Grant Hanley all over you at a corner.”
An ice-cold beer seemed like the obvious remedy after the long journey, until a single small can arrived at the bar with a $9 price tag attached to it.
Record Sport’s Keith Jackson reportedly spotted a rat scuttling around the accommodation, though exhaustion, heat, and the cost of a glass of red wine may have contributed to some creative thinking on his part.
The more likely culprit was a Brown Anole, the small native lizard that also made an appearance at breakfast the following morning, apparently quite unbothered by the new arrivals.
Monday’s priority was securing official World Cup accreditation, a process that required another hour-long trek back into Miami followed by a walk through the baking heat.
As any journalist who has dealt with FIFA or UEFA before will understand, having that official lanyard is not a minor administrative detail but rather the key to everything.
With accreditation sorted and Scotland’s first base camp now established, the focus turns to Tuesday’s press conference with Clarke and his players.
The message from that motorway sign in Glasgow still stands, as relevant in the Florida heat as it was on a wet Scottish morning: just go for it, Scotland.
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