What do Scotland need to qualify from World Cup group for first time?

Scotland are on the verge of history at the World Cup – but what do Steve Clarke’s side need to do to qualify from the group stage for the first time?

The Tartan Army are on their way stateside, tens of thousands of them, with hopes and dreams of a tournament to remember at their first World Cup since France in 1998.

And this Scotland side has already made history, qualifying for three major tournaments in a row under Steve Clarke.

But the Scots did not make it out of the group stage at either Euro 2020 or Euro 2024 to keep up their long unwanted record of never qualifying for the knockout stages of an international tournament.

In 1998, Scotland played two of the same teams they will face in North America – Morocco and Brazil.

What do Scotland need to do to qualify?

There is a very obvious, but perhaps fantastical option, which is that Scotland win all three games.

Bringing the optimism down a tad, two wins would also guarantee qualification and likely see the Scots finishing second behind Brazil, should they beat all three teams.

But many of the Tartan Army know that a win against Haiti in the opening game in Boston is crucial for any chance of qualification from the group.

A tough test awaits against Morocco five days later, but avoiding defeat in that game could see Scotland all but qualify before even facing Brazil. Four points from the first two would be ideal.

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Steve Clarke’s side are back on football’s biggest stage and Scotland fans are ready to make themselves heard in the United States.

A draw against Haiti puts Scotland in a difficult position and would make avoiding defeat against Morocco even more pressing.

Scotland could feasibly get into the next round with just one win, which would likely see them finish third, as eight of the best third-placed teams go through.

However, there’s a good chance more than eight teams finish on three points, given that there are 12 groups.

In that scenario, Scotland’s goal difference would need to be kept reasonable as the tiebreakers are goal difference, then goals scored, then team conduct score based on yellow and red cards, and finally FIFA ranking positions.

Who could Scotland face in the next round?

Despite a ball not being kicked, it’s worth examining who Scotland could face should they make history and qualify.

If John McGinn and company do what seems to be a mammoth task and finish top of the group, they would face the runner-up from Group F in the last 32.

That would be either the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden or Tunisia on Monday, June 29 in Houston, Texas.

Finishing second, they would face the winners of that group in Guadalajara on Tuesday, June 30, with a 2am kick-off.

If they finish third, the most likely scenario would see Scotland face either the winners of Group A, E, or I, which includes potential opponents such as Mexico, Germany and France.

And for many Scots, playing the winners of Group E, potentially Germany, could be handy as that game would also be in Boston, on June 29.

If facing the Group I winners, potentially France, that would take place the following night in New Jersey.

If facing the winners of Group A, Scotland would play in Mexico City, potentially against Mexico on their home turf, on Wednesday, July 1. That would be a late one again with a 2am kick-off UK time.