Scotland must beat Brazil to keep their World Cup dream alive
Back at a World Cup for the first time since 1998, Scotland need a win over the five-time champions in Miami to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.
Jun 24, 2026
Scotland have waited 28 years to be back at a World Cup, and now the whole adventure comes down to one night against the last team they would have chosen. Steve Clarke’s side meet Brazil in Miami knowing that nothing but a win keeps them in the tournament, a tall order against the five-time champions who have never lost to them on this stage. Kick-off at the Hard Rock Stadium is 3:30am IST on Thursday.
The group has been unkind to Scotland in the small details. They opened with a 1-0 win over Haiti through John McGinn, the result that ended that long wait, then lost by the same scoreline to Morocco, undone by a goal inside the first two minutes. Three points from two games is not a disgrace, but it leaves them third and chasing, with the toughest fixture saved for last.
What Scotland need
The maths is brutally simple. Scotland have to beat Brazil. A draw will not be enough unless results elsewhere fall perfectly, and even one of the better third-placed spots is far from guaranteed in a 48-team field where the cut-off keeps moving. After eight previous World Cups without ever reaching the knockout rounds, Scotland are once again staring at the same ceiling, with the hardest possible task to break through it.
History offers a flicker of comfort and not much more. Scotland have troubled Brazil before, most famously when David Narey lashed in an opener at the 1982 World Cup, only for the Selecao to respond with four. The teams have met four times at World Cups and Brazil have never been beaten, winning each of the last three.
Brazil chasing top spot, but reshuffling
Brazil arrive in a far calmer place. Four points from a draw with Morocco and a 3-0 win over Haiti leaves them all but through, and a result matching or bettering Morocco’s against Haiti would seal first place in the group. Carlo Ancelotti’s side would much rather avoid the lottery of finishing second and a potentially harder last-32 tie.
They will have to manage without Raphinha, ruled out with the hamstring problem he picked up against Haiti, though the early signs suggest he is not facing a long absence. Neymar is fit again and back in the squad, but a start looks unlikely, with Lucas Paqueta expected to keep the playmaking role behind Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha. The 19-year-old Rayan is in line to fill Raphinha’s place on the right.
For all Scotland’s spirit, the gulf in quality is obvious, and Brazil have the comfort of needing only a point. That combination usually ends one way. But World Cups have a habit of throwing up the odd wild night, and Scotland have nothing left to lose. If they are going to make history, there will never be a more dramatic stage to do it on.