Scotland defeat Belarus 2-0 in World Cup qualifier in Hungary

Scotland have their first win in World Cup 2026 qualifying after defeating Belarus 2-0 in Hungary.

Che Adams opened the scoring and an own goal from Zakhar Volkov sealed the victory in the ZTE Arena.

Belarus had been forced to play their matches away from home and with no supporters in attendance, making for an odd atmosphere in what was a vital game for Scotland’s qualification hopes.

Despite having slightly the better of an underwhelming first half, it looked like Scotland would be going in at the break without having broken the deadlock but a lively burst just before half time made the difference.

Moments after Billy Gilmour had hit the post, John McGinn found space to cross and picked out Scott McTominay, who nodded the ball back across goal. Che Adams slid in and prodded the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring.

Early in the second half Scotland had control of the ball and the majority of the play but needed a second goal to take any nerves out of the match. That came after 65 minutes and a clever passage of play that forced an own goal.

Gilmour fed Adams and then continued his run into the box, meeting the forward’s dinked pass with a header across goal that Zakhar Volkov put into his own net with McTominay waiting to pounce.

Adams and then McGinn had good chances to add to the scoreline but Scotland had to settle for a two-goal win that leaves them second in Group C after two games.

In the other group match, Denmark defeated Greece 3-0 in Athens to move to the top of the table.

Scotland face the Greeks and then Belarus at Hampden in October’s qualification double-header.