The Scotland national football team is one of the oldest in the world, having played the very first official international football match ever, against England in 1872. Scotland’s football history stretches back over 150 years, with the Scottish Football Association founded in 1873 to govern the sport in the country.
Scotland has qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals eight times before 2026, with appearances including a run of five straight tournaments from 1974 to 1990. However, the team has never advanced beyond the first group stage at a World Cup, despite some memorable moments such as a famous 3–2 win over the Netherlands in 1978 and draws with top teams like Brazil.
After a dramatic qualifying campaign, Scotland ended a 28-year absence from the World Cup by securing qualification for the 2026 tournament with an emotional 4–2 win over Denmark, marked by late goals that sent Hampden Park into celebration.
Group C teams:
Brazil – Five-time World Cup champions and perennial title contenders.
Morocco – Semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup and one of Africa’s strongest teams.
Haiti – World Cup competitors with limited finals experience.
Scotland – Making their first finals appearance since 1998.
Scotland’s campaign will kick off against Haiti on June 13, followed by matches against Morocco on June 19 and Brazil on June 24. The top two teams from the group—and possibly the third-placed team based on standings—will advance to the round of 32.
