Sports
World Cup qualifying: How Scotland can automatically reach next summer’s tournament after 28-year absence | Football News
Steve Clarke is urging the Tartan Army to “anticipate success” and drive Scotland to the World Cup when they host Denmark in a winner-takes-all clash.
1998 was the last time the Tartan Army partied at football’s biggest tournament – is the long absence about to end?
Denmark at Hampden Park is their final qualifying match. Win that and a place in North America next summer is secured.
Scotland’s winning run in Group C ended on Saturday night with defeat away to Greece, but the Danes’ surprise draw with Belarus kept their hopes of automatic qualification alive.
“Although we lost the game, we’re probably finishing in a good moment with good momentum in the game,” Clarke said.
“If we can carry that into Tuesday night with the help of a full Hampden and hopefully a very positive Hampden right from the first kick-off… We have a great group of players, but we’re going to need backing from the first minute at Hampden.”
Ben Gannon-Doak scored his first Scotland goal in Greece
Scotland did not always get a positive atmosphere in their other two home games. They were booed by some fans at half-time in the visit of Greece and were outplayed for about an hour before triumphing 3-1.
Some even jeered after a 2-1 victory over Belarus.
“We need positive backing,” Clarke said. “One of my favourite sayings for the players is ‘play with the anticipation of success and not the fear of failure’. I’m going to ask the Hampden crowd to do that on Tuesday night.
Scotland played out a goalless draw with Denmark in the first qualifying match in Copenhagen
“We need them for the first minute to be with us and in the difficult moments in the game to be especially with us. That’s what this group of players deserve and, if they get that, I’m pretty sure we can do something special.
“I think we can inspire each other. The team can inspire the fans and the fans can inspire the team.”
A place in March’s play-offs is already secured, but automatic qualification is the ultimate prize for Scotland.
How do play-offs work?
Scotland’s last World Cup appearance was in 1998
The 12 group runners-up will participate in the play-offs, along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that did not finish their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.
The 16 teams that enter the play-offs will be drawn into four play-off paths, with four teams in each. Play-off matches will be played in single-leg semi-finals, followed by single-leg finals within the same international window in from March 26 to 31 next year.
How many European teams will qualify?
In total, 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The 12 group winners qualify directly for the World Cup; the four remaining berths are determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up.
World Cup 2026 European qualifiers schedule
- Final group-stage match dates: November 13-18, 2025
- Play-off match dates: March 26-31 2026
- Final tournament dates: June 11 to July 19 2026
When and where is the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The tournament will take place across 16 cities in three North American countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is the first time a World Cup has been hosted by three nations.
The last time North America hosted the tournament was in 1994, when Brazil triumphed after beating Italy on penalties.
An expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams – 16 more than in Qatar 2022 – and take place across three host nations for the first time.
World Cup 2026 schedule
Group stage: June 11-27
Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
Round of 16: July 4-7
Quarter-finals: July 9-11
Semi-finals: July 14-15
Third-place play-off (‘Bronze final’): July 18
Final: July 19
