Scotland will play at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, giving Steve Clarke’s side a return to the global stage after a 28-year absence, according to the source. The tournament’s expansion to 48 teams introduces a round-of-32 as the first knockout stage.
Scotland are drawn in Group C and open against Haiti on June 14 (2 a.m., Boston), followed by matches against Morocco on June 19 (11 p.m., Boston) and Brazil on June 24 (11 p.m., Miami). The opening fixture is listed as taking place locally on Saturday, June 13 in the source.
Group C pairs Scotland with five-time world champions Brazil and Morocco, the African champions who reached the 2022 World Cup semifinals. The source notes Brazil and Morocco are ranked sixth and eighth in the world, respectively, and recalls that Scotland’s last World Cup appearance in 1998 also featured Brazil and Morocco, with Scotland losing both those matches. The source describes Haiti as the group’s lowest-ranked side and frames a comfortable win over Haiti as crucial to Scotland’s chances of reaching the knockout rounds.
If Scotland finish third in the group, progression would depend on being among the eight best third-placed teams, the source explains. The enlarged format creates complex permutations — the report cites 495 possible combinations for which group winners could face third-placed sides. As a third-placed team from Group C, Scotland could be drawn against a winner from Group A, E or I, which the source suggests would likely be Mexico, Germany or France. Those round-of-32 matches would be scheduled for June 29 or June 30 in Boston, New Jersey or Mexico City.
Advancing past that round would set up further high-profile opponents, the source states. A win over France or Germany could be followed by another clash with a top side or a surprise third-placed team. If Scotland were to beat Mexico in the round-of-32, the source notes a possible round-of-16 meeting with England. Quarterfinal and later opponents outlined in the source include the Netherlands, a potential Brazil rematch, and among the tournament’s strongest teams such as Spain, Portugal or Argentina.
Should Scotland finish second in Group C, the source reports they would face the winner of Group F in the round-of-32. The source frames the group stage results as pivotal to which knockout pathway will open for Scotland.
