The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here, and Scotland is part of it for the first time in 28 years. Steve Clarke's squad is preparing for their opening match in Group C, which includes Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil. The tournament is hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the opening game at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Haiti vs Scotland - June 14, 2am BST, Boston Stadium
Scotland opens their campaign against Haiti, ranked 83rd in the world. The Scots aim to break a curse of never winning a World Cup game in their away kit. Haiti qualified through Concacaf, finishing second in their first group behind Curacao (whom Scotland beat 4-1 last month) and topping their third group ahead of Honduras and Costa Rica.
Head coach Sébastien Migné, a Frenchman, has managed Congo, Kenya, and Equatorial Guinea. He failed to convince former Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard to join Haiti. Migné was an assistant when Cameroon beat Brazil at the 2022 World Cup.
Ones to watch: Duckens Nazon, former St Mirren striker, is Haiti's all-time top scorer with 44 goals in 82 caps. Wilson Isidor of Sunderland scored in a warm-up defeat to Peru and has four goals in his last nine games.
Full squad: Goalkeepers: Johnny Placide, Alexandre Pierre, Josue Duverger. Defenders: Carlens Arcus, Wilguens Pauguain, Duke Lacroix, Martin Expérience, Jean-Kevin Duverne, Ricardo Ade, Hannes Delcroix, Keeto Thermoncy. Midfielders: Leverton Pierre, Carl-Fred Sainthe, Jean-Jacques Danley, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Pierre Woodenski, Dominique Simon. Forwards: Louicius Deedson, Ruben Providence, Josue Casimir, Derrick Etienne, Wilson Isidor, Duckens Nazon, Frantzdy Pierrot, Yassin Fortune, Lenny Joseph.
Previous meetings: First meeting. Best World Cup: 1974 group stage.
Scotland vs Morocco - June 19, 11pm BST, Boston Stadium
Morocco cruised through qualifying with a perfect record, scoring 22 goals and conceding two. They reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and controversially won the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, a Belgian, previously coached Morocco's youth teams. He replaced Walid Regragui in March and has an unbeaten record in warm-ups, favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Ones to watch: Achraf Hakimi, PSG right-back and 2025 African Footballer of the Year, captains the side. Brahim Diaz, Real Madrid forward, was top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Full squad: Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir Mohamedi, Ahmed Tagnaouti. Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine, Youssef Belammari, Nayef Aguerd, Chadi Riad, Issa Diop, Redouane Halhal, Achraf Hakimi, Zakaria El Ouahdi. Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari. Forwards: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Chemsdine Talbi, Soufiane Rahimi, Ayoub El Kaabi, Brahim Diaz, Yassine Gessime, Ayoub Amaimouni-Echghouyabe.
Previous meetings: Scotland lost 3-0 to Morocco at the 1998 World Cup. Best World Cup: Semi-finals in 2022.
Scotland vs Brazil - June 24, 11pm BST, Miami Stadium
Brazil finished fifth in CONMEBOL qualifying, 10 points behind Argentina, and lost 1-0 to Bolivia (whom Scotland beat 4-0 in a warm-up). Coach Carlo Ancelotti, a five-time Champions League winner, favours a 4-2-4 formation.
Ones to watch: Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid winger, leads the attack. Neymar earned a late call-up. Gabriel, Arsenal centre-back, seeks to rebound from a missed penalty in the Champions League final.
Full squad: Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson, Weverton. Defenders: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Leo Pereira, Bremer, Ibanez, Ederson, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos. Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Danilo Santos, Fabinho, Lucas Paqueta. Forwards: Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Matheus Cunha, Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, Luiz Henrique, Neymar, Rayan.
Previous meetings: Scotland drew 0-0 in 1974, lost 4-1 in 1982, 1-0 in 1990, and 2-1 in 1998. Best World Cup: Five-time champions, most recently in 2002.
