A jubilant Scotland has secured its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, overcoming Denmark in a dramatic 4-2 victory at Hampden Park. This historic win marks the first time Scotland has qualified for the World Cup finals since 1998, ending 27 years of disappointment for the Tartan Army.
The sold-out Hampden Park witnessed a thrilling encounter where Scotland needed a win against Group C leaders Denmark to secure automatic qualification. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams displaying determination and skill.
Scotland got off to a flying start when Scott McTominay scored an overhead kick in the third minute, sending the home crowd into raptures. However, Denmark responded in the 57th minute with a penalty from Rasmus Hojlund, leveling the score. Moments later, Denmark's Rasmus Kristensen received a second yellow card, reducing the visitors to 10 men. Scotland capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Lawrence Shankland restoring their lead.
Despite being a man down, Denmark fought back, and Patrick Dorgu equalized in the 81st minute, threatening to spoil Scotland's party. With the score at 2-2 and time running out, it appeared Denmark would secure the point they needed to top Group C and automatically qualify. However, Scotland had other plans.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Kieran Tierney unleashed a superb shot past Kasper Schmeichel, putting Scotland ahead once again. With Denmark pushing for an equalizer and their goalkeeper Schmeichel up in attack, Kenny McLean launched a long-range effort into the empty net, sealing a 4-2 victory for Scotland and sparking wild celebrations.
The victory means Scotland topped Group C, leapfrogging Denmark and avoiding the play-offs. Steve Clarke's side can now look forward to the World Cup draw on December 5, where they will discover their opponents for the tournament in North America next summer. The tournament, which will be held across Canada, the USA, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will be the biggest World Cup yet, with 48 teams participating.
Scotland joins other European nations such as England, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal who have already qualified for the finals. This will be Clarke's third major final as head coach, having previously led the team to successive European Championships. There is also a possibility that all four home nations will be competing at the tournament, with Wales having an opportunity to qualify directly, or at least secure a play-off spot, and Northern Ireland still in with a chance of qualifying through the play-off rounds.
