Group C fixtures
Sun 14 Jun02:00 BST
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Fri 19 Jun23:00 BST
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Wed 24 Jun23:00 BST
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Key players to watch
Scott McTominay
MF · Napoli
The talisman and qualifying hero — his overhead kick against Denmark helped send Scotland through. A Serie A title winner who scores and drives from midfield.
Match-winner · aerial threat
Andrew Robertson
LB · Liverpool · C
Captain and one of the most decorated players in the squad (92 caps); overlaps and delivers set pieces from the left.
Set-piece deliverer
John McGinn
MF · Aston Villa
Energetic, goal-getting midfielder with 85 caps; a leader who chips in with big goals and dead balls.
Box-to-box · goals
Lewis Ferguson
MF · Bologna
Energetic, all-action Bologna captain who steps into central midfield after a cruel knee injury ruled out Billy Gilmour on the eve of the finals.
Midfield engine
Ché Adams
FW · Torino
Leads the line with 10 goals in 50 caps; a willing runner who stretches defences.
Lone striker
Ben Gannon-Doak
W · Bournemouth
The exciting young winger who set up McTominay's decisive goal; pace and directness off the flank.
Breakout winger
Goals & output
Goals come from midfield and set pieces more than a prolific striker — McTominay is the main threat, McGinn chips in, and Adams leads the line. Scotland have never been free-scoring, so dead balls and second balls are central to their output.
Set-piece duties
Penalties
Shared (McGinn among options)
Free kicks
Robertson / McGinn
Corners
Robertson / Christie
Set pieces are a genuine Scotland weapon: Robertson and McGinn deliver, Ryan Christie also takes some, and McTominay is a major aerial and late-run threat in the box (as his qualifying goals showed). The first-choice penalty taker isn't firmly nailed down publicly, with McGinn among the options.
Discipline read
▲A committed, physical midfield (McTominay, McGinn) means cards are plausible when games get stretched, but Scotland are well-drilled rather than reckless under Clarke.
Recent form
Back at a World Cup for the first time since 1998 (a 10th appearance) — but they have never escaped a World Cup group. They qualified in dramatic fashion, beating Denmark 4-2 at Hampden with McTominay's overhead kick and two stoppage-time goals, having won their UEFA group (four wins, 13 goals). It's a third straight major tournament under Steve Clarke, who has extended to 2030. A cruel late blow saw deep-lying playmaker Billy Gilmour ruled out by a knee injury in the final warm-up against Curaçao, with 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher called up in his place.
Head-to-head history
v Haiti (14 Jun)
No meaningful history
A first competitive meeting and, on paper, Scotland's most winnable game — likely must-win to keep qualification hopes alive.
v Morocco (19 Jun)
Lost 3-0 at 1998 WC
Morocco beat Scotland 3-0 at the 1998 World Cup — Scotland's last World Cup match before this tournament. A chance at redemption in Foxborough.
v Brazil (24 Jun)
5th WC meeting; never beaten them
Scotland have never beaten Brazil at a World Cup (three defeats and the 1974 0-0). With Brazil and Morocco both in their group, it's a near-repeat of the 1998 draw that ended in two defeats.
Underdog & betting read
The verdict
Realistically chasing one of the eight best third-place spots rather than the top two. The plan: beat Haiti, take something off Morocco, and hope Brazil isn't a step too far. Backed by a huge Tartan Army. Value in Scotland to finish third, the Haiti game, and McTominay anytime-scorer.