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 fans are clinging to hope as the national team teeters on the edge of a World Cup exit, with a miraculous sequence of results the only route to survival.
Manager Steve Clarke brutally admitted he had the team pegged as a goner, and that downbeat prediction now looks increasingly likely to come to pass.
Scotland currently sits in tenth place in the third-place rankings table, needing an improbable chain of results to climb back into the top eight.
The first requirement is the most unlikely of all, with Ghana needing to defeat Croatia by three or more goals to keep Scottish hopes alive.
Should the Black Stars pull off that improbable result, Scotland would then need DR Congo to fail to beat Uzbekistan in their fixture.
The final piece of the puzzle would require Austria to beat Algeria by two goals or more, completing a remarkable sequence that few expect to materialise.
Scotland’s own performances have done little to help their cause, with sobering defeats against Morocco and Brazil leaving them dependent on others from the outset.
Results elsewhere have further damaged Scotland’s standing, with Senegal’s rousing 5-0 win over Iraq bumping them out of the top eight entirely.
A further blow came when Iran held firm against Egypt, pushing Scotland down yet another place in the third-place standings and deepening the gloom.
The squad has not officially been eliminated, but reports suggest players may already have their suitcases packed amid an agonising wait to learn their fate.
All eyes will now turn to the Ghana versus Croatia fixture, with Scotland’s campaign potentially ending around midnight if the result fails to go their way.
If Ghana somehow conjure the required scoreline, attention will shift to Uzbekistan and Austria, with the nation rolling into the early hours hoping for further favours.
Clarke’s candid admission before results played out reflects a resigned realism that has settled over Scottish football as the group stage draws to a close.
A nation that dared to dream of a historic World Cup run now faces the likelihood of an early exit, barring one of the most extraordinary nights in recent football history.
About the Author
