Scotland have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but what happens now?

Scotland scored three stunning goals in their era-defining win over Denmark - but which was the best?

Scotland's players talk, and talk, and talk after sealing a place in the men's World Cup for the first time since 1998 with a scarcely believable 4-2 victory over Denmark.

BBC Scotland pundits James McFadden and Steven Thompson, as well as commentator Liam McLeod, go wild as Scotland claim their first men's World Cup place since 1998.

A generation of Scotland fans witness the greatest game of their lives on an astonishing night at Hampden. Nick McPheat was among them.

Max Rushden is joined by Jonathan Wilson, Barney Ronay and John Brewin to reflect on Ireland’s dramatic late win in Budapest, England’s flawless qualifying campaign and a decisive week ahead for Scotland and Wales Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email. On today’s pod: Ireland produced one of the great, chaotic international wins in Budapest, with Troy Parrott scoring twice in injury time to seal a hat-trick (and comeback) that sent the country into full delirium. The panel relives the moments, plus, hears from Barry Glendenning and David O’Doherty who share their excitement in voice note form. Continue reading...

Results this week will determine the play-off paths for Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and, potentially, Scotland.

Bruno Fernandes and João Neves both score hat-tricks Result seals top spot above Ireland in Group F Portugal qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday with a 9-1 hammering of Armenia in Porto that included hat-tricks from both Bruno Fernandes and João Neves. The reigning Nations League champions were forced to wait to book an automatic spot after losing 2-0 to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday in a game where their captain Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off. However, Roberto Martínez’s side needed no help from their all-time top scorer in a one-sided match that assured them top spot in Group F with 13 points, giving Ronaldo the opportunity to play at a record sixth World Cup. Continue reading...

Put yourself in the shoes of the Scotland manager and pick the side and tactics and decide what your pre-match team talk would be.

Scotland "can't let go" of the opportunity they have to reach a first men's World Cup since 1998, says John McGinn.

After years of admirable misery, are Scotland destined for the World Cup after riding their luck in their qualification campaign?

⚽ Updates from the Group C qualifier (7.45pm GMT) ⚽ Get in touch! Email Scott with your thoughts Optimism! Agitation! Anticipation! Panic! As a world of possibility opens up in front of Scotland, Ewan Murray takes a cross section of the squad’s mindset. Scotland make six changes to the side that scraped past Belarus at Hampden last month. Craig Gordon, 42, who hasn’t played competitive football since May, replaces the absent Angus Gunn in goal. Grant Hanley, John Souttar and Aaron Hickey come into the defence, while Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson go into the midfield. Anthony Ralston, Kenny McLean, Jack Hendry and Scott McKenna drop to the bench, while Billy Gilmour is injured. Continue reading...

Slovakia beat Northern Ireland at the last to set up a winner-takes-all Group A encounter with Germany on Monday Thomas Tuchel wants his England substitutes to channel any anger they feel at not starting into making the difference when they can because the team that win the World Cup will be defined by productivity off the bench. The head coach will prepare a heat-proof gameplan for the finals next summer when temperatures at many of the venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada are expected to be stifling and a major part will involve how best to use his substitutes. Continue reading...

Scotland can reach a first World Cup since 1998 but the manager had to read the riot act last month even as they won It appears you can be on the brink of reaching your holy grail without many people paying sufficient attention. Scotland’s opportunity for World Cup qualification is their best since 1998, when they last performed on that scene. Theirs is also a scenario that would have been widely welcomed before a ball was kicked. On the basis Denmark will defeat Belarus, Scotland must take at least a point from Saturday’s clash in Greece. In that event, a win over Denmark at Hampden Park on Tuesday would propel Scotland towards next summer and international football’s top table. Not since 1982 have Scotland played in a World Cup having topped their qualifying group. The team that earned a crucial win over Sweden in September 1981 could afford to be without Graeme Souness. It included Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish and Joe Jordan. Continue reading...