Scotland’s journey in the 2026 World Cup has officially concluded. The national team was eliminated after Croatia secured a 2-1 victory over Ghana, leaving Steve Clarke’s squad unable to qualify as one of the top third-placed teams required to enter the knockout stage.
This outcome marks another early exit for Scotland, continuing their long-standing trend of failing to advance past the group stage across thirteen appearances in major international tournaments. Although Scotland achieved their first World Cup win in 36 years by defeating Haiti 1-0, they were unable to build on that momentum against higher-ranked opponents.
Following a narrow 1-0 loss to Morocco, Scotland fell 3-0 to Brazil in Miami. Defensive lapses proved costly during the match, as early turnovers allowed Vinicius Jr. to score twice before Matheus Cunha added a third. Despite a late push, Scotland remained stuck on three points and a negative goal difference, ultimately sealing their departure from the competition.
