Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell thrilled by Scotland's 'magnificent' World Cup draw and predicts ticket scramble

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell believes Scotland have been handed a “magnificent” World Cup draw, which brings excitement and a chance to reach the knockout stages.

Friday’s draw ceremony in Washington, D.C., put Scotland with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti in Group C for next year’s finals and ramped up the excitement after Steve Clarke’s side ended the national team’s long exile from the competition.

Maxwell was in the US capital for the event, along with Clarke, and he was thrilled by the outcome, with a game against Brazil to look forward to, as well as “competitive” fixtures.

“Magnificent,” the SFA chief told STV Sport. “It’s the biggest sporting event in the world, and we’ve got one of the biggest teams in the world. It’s going to be very competitive.

“What more could we want when we’re looking forward to next summer? I’m sure for the Tartan Army, and Scotland fans across the world, it will have whetted their appetite for what’s ahead in 2026.”

Maxwell was particularly pleased with the variety in the draw, which pits Scotland against teams from Central America, South America and Africa.

“We wanted to avoid UEFA nations,” he said. “We play them enough, and I think football fans will be the same.

“It was about a big Pot One team, teams we can be competitive against, and we’ve got that.”

Demand for tickets is going to be high, with fans already planning their trips for the matches in Boston and Miami, and Maxwell predicted a huge appetite to see the team play in a World Cup since 1998.

“We’ve got 38,000 within the Scotland Supporters Club who will all be clamouring for tickets,” he said. “There are another six million people in Scotland, as well as all the ex-pats in the States, who will be desperate to get to the game.

“It’s a great problem to have, but it shows you the power and the reach that football has, that everybody is going to be desperate to get to these matches.

“I think everybody in the association can expect their phones to be busy in the next wee while.”