Scotland’s World Cup Qualifier Opponents & Draw Date
Scotland’s journey to the 2026 World Cup is about to take shape as the draw for the European qualifiers looms closer. Steve Clarke’s side finds themselves in Pot Three for the much-anticipated draw set to unfold this Friday. The event will be held in Zurich, with teams being slotted into 12 groups consisting of four or five teams each. The draw is scheduled to kick off at approximately 11 am, setting the stage for an exciting path towards the major finals to be spread across the USA, Canada, and Mexico in the upcoming years.
Who Will Scotland Face in the World Cup Qualifiers?
In the pursuit of securing automatic qualification, Scotland is poised to contend in a spirited four-team group, striving for the top spot. This strategic positioning means that they will be spared any encounters with the Pot 5 nations, with a slim possibility of being placed in a five-team group. While Scotland can potentially square off against any team in Pot 4, there are certain restrictions in place that rule out matchups with select Pot 2 teams. Notably, Steve Clarke’s squad remains open to drawing any team from Pot 1, including the formidable England, setting the stage for riveting clashes on the horizon.
Pot 1: France, Spain, England, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria.
Pot 2: Ukraine, Turkiye, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, Slovakia, Czechia, Norway, Romania, Poland, Wales, Sweden.
Pot 3: SCOTLAND, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Finland, Georgia, North Macedonia, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Israel.
Pot 4: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Belarus, Armenia, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Lithuania.
Pot 5: Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino.
How Do the World Cup Qualifiers Unfold?
UEFA is set to dispatch 16 countries to the 2026 World Cup, with the 12 group winners clinching automatic berths for the prestigious tournament. Additionally, four more spots at the World Cup will be up for grabs through a playoff involving the 12 runners-up from the group stage and the four best Nations League group winners that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group.
When Will the World Cup Qualifiers Commence?
Nations allocated to groups of five will kick off their qualification campaigns in March 2025, while those in four-team groups will commence their journey in September 2025. All qualification matches are slated to conclude by November 2025, paving the way for a thrilling road to the 2026 World Cup.
Stay tuned as Scotland prepares to embark on a thrilling quest towards the World Cup, poised for captivating encounters and moments that will define their path to glory.
