Scotland ends 28-year World Cup wait, aims for knockout stage debut

Scotland has ended a 28-year World Cup drought, qualifying for the 2026 finals after a dramatic campaign. The team, nicknamed the "Tartan Army," last appeared in the tournament in 1998.

Their qualification was secured by finishing first in their European qualifying group. The decisive matches saw Scott McTominay score a crucial bicycle kick and two long-range shots in stoppage time, sealing their return to the international stage. This dramatic finish followed a period where Scotland was on the brink of elimination.

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The Tartan Army will finally end nearly 30 years of waiting and aim to break through the group stage for the first time in the team's history.

Under manager Steve Clarke, who took charge in 2019, Scotland has developed into a stable and competitive team. Key players for the upcoming tournament include McTominay, Liverpool defender Andy Robertson, and Aston Villa captain John McGinn. The team is grouped with Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti, and is widely predicted to finish third in their group. However, with their recent dramatic qualification, advancing to the knockout stages for the first time is considered a possibility.

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The team's qualification process was dramatic, at one point on the verge of elimination, but ultimately secured first place in Group C.