Scotland at World Cup 2026: Steve Clarke’s side look to progress beyond the group stage for first time

As Scotland’s World Cup opener draws ever closer, Steve Clarke will have a fair idea of who he will play and how he will set up.

Saying that, the Scotland boss did admit he has “fantastic problems” when it comes to team selection. The 4-0 thumping of Bolivia in New Jersey will have given him food for thought – but also more certainty of what he is going to do.

He is a head coach who has broken down many barriers. In 2020, he ended Scotland’s tournament exile by taking them to the European Championships. He followed that up by doing the same in 2024, and has now ended a 28-year wait to reach the World Cup.

The next barrier is to progress out of a group at a major finals.

Reason to be optimistic?

This squad has plenty of experience. You only have to look at the number of caps, with a sprinkling of younger players, and crucially most have experience of tournament football now. The problem is, Scotland are in one of the most competitive groups which includes two of the top eight teams in the world rankings.

Coincidentally, those two teams, Brazil and Morocco, were also group opponents at Scotland’s last World Cup appearance in 1998.

Their first opponents, Haiti, make up the group as they prepare for their first World Cup since 1974. They are the bottom seeds, and there will be an expectation that Scotland can win this game, which could be enough to qualify out of the section.

In saying that, there is no guarantee. There never is with Scotland. Remember Peru and Iran in 1978? Haiti have a squad with European club experience. I watched Wilson Isidor come on for Sunderland against Chelsea on the final day of the Premier League and cause problems. I thought right away Scotland could be in for a tough game.

They did beat New Zealand 4-0 in a friendly in Miami before losing to Peru, where Isador had put them ahead.

Duckens Nazon was a threat in qualifying, scoring a hat-trick against Costa Rica. St Mirren fans will remember him. He scored a couple of goals in a brief spell in Paisley in 2019, and was sent off in a play-off final second-leg as St Mirren beat the drop on penalties.

Scotland have scored four goals in each of their warm-up games. Following that farewell victory over Curacao at Hampden, the win against Bolivia was played in 33-degree heat in New Jersey. A first clean sheet since their opening World Cup qualifier in Denmark in September was also welcome.

For all the positives, we do have to remember they were both friendlies. No one can get carried away, but how would we be feeling if Scotland lost both games? Clarke wanted no injuries, a good performance and a win, he got all three against Bolivia.

The group are now in Charlotte at their official training base, fine tuning for their World Cup opener.

Formation flexibility

Scotland are more flexible than when they played at the Euros in Germany. Back then, they played a 3-4-2-1. The back three was initially used to fit Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney into the team and utilise their strengths on the left. It was a system that served them well and helped in qualifying for two European Championships.

Since then, and starting in the Nations League, Clarke has gone with a back four. The emergence of Ben Gannon-Doak and the injury to Tierney, in-part, forced a change.

At times, he has even gone with two up front. He did so in the opening World Cup qualifier in Copenhagen. Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes were a hard-working threat and helped out in defending set-pieces at the back. The three at the back made a return in the first half of the Ivory Coast friendly in March, and it shows Scotland can pivot and change if required.

Striker selection dilemma

I mentioned strikers earlier. What is the best pairing if Clarke decides to go with two up top? Or who leads the line if a lone striker is required?

The Adams and Shankland partnership against Bolivia worked well, Clarke may be swayed by that double act with Shankland putting Scotland ahead, to add to the two he scored against Curacao, while Adams got two himself in that first half. Adams also scored late on for Torino in the final Serie A game of the season against Juventus in the Turin derby – but he has not been prolific. He could be hitting form at the right time.

Dykes has scored in just one in his last 21 internationals, but looking at just that stat doesn’t highlight his whole contribution when playing. He set up Shankland for one of his goals against Curacao.

Given Adams and Dykes started up front together in Denmark in September, they have been trusted members of Clarke’s squad, but given the form of Shankland, is the choice now Shankland and one of Adams and Dykes?

Shankland also scored against Denmark in November to add to his 20 for Hearts this season. With his summer move to Rangers confirmed, the in-form striker will hope his scoring exploits will give him the advantage. George Hirst bagged 11 in Ipswich’s promotion season in the Championship and seems to be growing into international football, but has just one goal so far for Scotland.

Who gets the gloves?

The goalkeeping position is still an interesting topic. Angus Gunn was given the No 1 squad number, but will he be the first choice? He got the nod against Bolivia, which could be an indicator. The three goalkeepers have played seven club games between them this season. Seven of Gunn’s last eight career appearances have been for Scotland, with just 45 minutes of football as a half-time substitute for Nottingham Forest in February against Crystal Palace.

Then you have 43-year-old Craig Gordon who struggled for minutes at title-chasing Hearts but pulled off the save of the season against Dundee in January. A recent shoulder injury is something that has been a concern. Liam Kelly will continue as support and back-up. He pulled off three saves during the Curacao game at Hampden Park.

Defensive decisions

There is competition at the back in terms of the centre-backs. Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, John Souttar and Dom Hyam will feel they deserve a shot. Hanley and Hendry worked well in New Jersey, McKenna and Souttar started against Curacao.

Injuries in the past to Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson have meant a lack of depth on the right. They now have the chance to make their mark at the World Cup. The benefit for Clarke is Scotland were a threat down both flanks against Bolivia. Gannon-Doak seemed to relish the last match having struggled a bit against Curacao.

The Scotland head coach, fresh from signing a new four-year deal, knows what is required in international football. Nobody has taken charge of the national team more than him, but expectations have risen.

Scotland have to handle the heat on and off the field in what looks like one of the toughest groups at the World Cup.