How can Scotland qualify for Round of 32 of FIFA World Cup 2026?

Scotland qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Scotland started their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on a bright note by defeating Haiti 1-0. John McGinn scored the only goal of the game and helped his side top group C on Matchday 1 with three points.

Apart from Scotland and Haiti, Group C also includes Brazil and Morocco, who drew on MD 1. However, Steve Clarke’s men lost the top spot to Selecao after the five-time champions defeated Les Grenadiers 3-0 in the second game.

On the other hand, the Tartan Army suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to last edition’s semi-finalists Morocco, courtesy of Ismael Saibari’s goal in the second minute. Scotland are currently third in Group H with three points, trailing behind Brazil and Morocco.

With only one game remaining for the side, fans might be wondering about the chances of the Tartan Army qualifying for the last 32.

How can Scotland qualify for the knockout stage?

Scotland will face Brazil on June 24 in their last group-stage game. If they beat Selecao in that game, their spot in the knockout round will be instantly secured. However, if they lose against Carlo Ancelotti’s men, they will have to wait to see if they can qualify as one of the best-ranked third-placed teams.

Also Read: Reason behind referee’s special jersey in Tunisia vs Japan FIFA World Cup 2026 clash

If Steve Clarke’s side draws against Brazil, their chances of advancing will significantly increase, as they will have four points.

Under the new format of the FIFA World Cup, the eight best-ranked out of the 12 third-placed teams will advance to the last 32. As a result, Scotland’s fate will not be completely in their own hands.

If they qualify for their first-ever knockout stage at the World Cup, they are likely to face either France, Germany or Mexico. The newly introduced stage in the tournament, the round of 32, becomes significantly complicated when it comes to plotting permutations. As per ESPN, there are 495 possible combinations in which a group table topper can face a third-place side.

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