After nearly three decades, Scotland are back on football's biggest stage. Their first World Cup match in 28 years kicks off on Saturday against Haiti in Boston, and the nation is holding its breath. Midfielder Scott McTominay, who missed a training session due to an upset stomach, has been declared fit and ready by head coach Steve Clarke. But Clarke is keen to stress that success will depend on the whole squad, not just one player.
Scotland qualified for the 2026 World Cup after a long absence that stretched back to 1998. The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, sees the Tartan Army in Group C alongside Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil. Their opener against Haiti takes place at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Saturday (Sunday, 02:00 BST) and will be broadcast live on the BBC.
“Explains Scotland's first World Cup in 28 years, their opener against Haiti, and key squad news.”
Why the long wait? Scotland last appeared at a World Cup in France 1998, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage. The 2026 edition marks a return after years of near misses and heartbreak in qualifying campaigns. Under Steve Clarke, appointed in 2019, the team has built a tight-knit squad ethos – something Clarke highlighted when asked about McTominay's importance. “We've built everything we've done over the last seven years on the squad, the team, everyone being together,” he said. He also noted he has “26 superstars” and that over-reliance on any individual is unfair.
For UK readers, Scotland's participation is a rare and exciting event. The last time Scotland played a World Cup match, many younger fans weren't born. The tournament also has a strong British connection beyond the men's side – England Women won the Euros in 2022, and the men's team reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. But for Scotland, simply being back in the tournament is a huge achievement and a source of national pride. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, a keen football fan, showed his support by attending a training session and receiving a gift from captain Andy Robertson.
Key questions answered:
Q: When is Scotland's first World Cup match? Scotland play Haiti on Saturday at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, with kick-off at 02:00 BST on Sunday. The match is available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, and with text updates on the BBC Sport website.
Q: Who is missing through injury for Scotland? Centre-back Scott McKenna has not trained this week and will miss the Haiti game due to a calf issue. He is expected to return to training on Monday, so could feature later in the group stage.
Q: Who are Scotland's other group opponents? Scotland are in Group C with Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil. After Haiti, they will face Morocco and then Brazil in the group stage.
What happens next: Scotland's tournament begins with the Haiti match. Depending on the result, they will then prepare for Morocco and Brazil. Clarke has emphasised squad depth, so rotations are likely. The immediate focus is on getting a positive result in the opener to give themselves a chance of progressing to the knockout stages.