What do Scotland need to qualify as World Cup fate hangs in balance against Brazil?

Scotland’s World Cup fate is hanging in the balance ahead of the team’s toughest test in the group stage so far against Brazil.

Tens of thousands of the Tartan Army descended on Boston for Scotland’s first World Cup since France in 1998.

The Scots were celebrating after beating Haiti 1-0 in Boston last Saturday evening, thanks to a goal in the first half from John McGinn.

That was Scotland’s first win at a World Cup since 1990, but it was followed by a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Morocco on Friday.

Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Form
Brazil	2	1	1	0	4	1	+3	4	D W
Morocco	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1	4	D W
Scotland	2	1	0	1	1	1	0	3	W L
Haiti	2	0	0	2	0	4	-4	0	L L

Updated 20 Jun 2026, 17:57

Scotland’s bid to qualify from the group for the first time at a World Cup now hangs in the balance against the South American giants.

What do Scotland need to do to qualify?

Scotland could, of course, beat Brazil and guarantee qualification from the group.

But the Scots have never beaten Brazil, despite facing each other at several World Cups, including in 1998.

Scotland would have hoped to avoid defeat against Morocco, but a goal inside two minutes left the Scots on three points, and Morocco on four, the same as Brazil.

A negative goal difference now looks certain, unless Steve Clarke’s men can play out a draw with Carlo Ancelotti’s side. In that scenario, Scotland would be all but guaranteed to qualify.

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Brazil saw off Haiti by three goals to nil, with the Haitians becoming the first team to be eliminated from the tournament.

With eight of the best third-placed teams going through, Scotland still have a chance to get into the next round.

Only Sweden are ahead of Scotland in those rankings, and the Swedes have the same goal difference of zero but have scored more goals.

Paraguay are also on three points after two games, but have a worse goal difference than Scotland.

All but four of the 12 teams have played two games, with Portugal, Panama, Senegal and Jordan still to play. The latter three are all on zero points, and Portugal are on one.

That means as it stands on Monday morning, Scotland look in a relatively healthy position, but things can quickly change.

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By the time we reach kick-off on Wednesday night, the need for keeping as many goals out as possible could be even greater.

Should Brazil beat Scotland by a significant margin, the chances of qualification become fairly slim.

And the final picture may not be clear until Sunday, when all the group game fixtures have been completed.

Who could Scotland face in the next round?

If John McGinn and company were to somehow finish top of the group, they would face the runner-up from Group F in the last 32.

In that scenario, Scotland would have to beat Brazil, and Morocco would have to draw or lose to Haiti.

As group winners, they would face either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden on Monday, June 29 in Houston, Texas at 6pm.

If Scotland finish second, they would face the winners of that group at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on Tuesday, June 30 at 2am.

Group F has been one of the more tantalising tussles, with the Netherlands and Japan both on four points and Sweden on three.

If Scotland finish third, the most likely scenario would see them face either the winners of Group A, E, or I, which includes potential opponents such as Mexico, Germany and France.

Currently, Mexico have six points and South Korea have three in Group A. Germany sit on top of Group E after two wins, while Norway and France are both on three points in Group I.

Playing the Group E winners could be handy, as that game would also be in Boston on June 29.

If facing the Group I winners, that would take place the following night in New Jersey.

If facing the winners of Group A, Scotland would play in Mexico City on Wednesday, July 1. That would be a late one again with a 2am kick-off UK time.