Scotland are going to the World Cup!
Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean were heroes in stoppage time as the Scots beat 10-man Denmark 4-2 to secure automatic qualification.
After two consecutive European Championships, head coach Steve Clarke is taking the country back to football’s biggest tournament for the first time since 1998.
Scotland knew only a victory would be enough: Scott McTominay sent them on their way with a spectacular bicycle kick after just three minutes.
Denmark only needed a draw to go top of the group and Rasmus Hojlund, denied in the first half, equalized from the penalty spot after a lengthy VAR check on Andy Robertson’s foul on Gustav Isaksen.
With the Danes reduced to 10 men after Rasmus Kristensen’s second booking, Lawrence Shankland came off the bench to send the Scots ahead, but Patrick Dorgu equalized again a few minutes later.
Kieran Tierney is mobbed by his Scotland teammates after his stoppage-time goal put them on the path to victory against Denmark.
A nation believed and the dream came true when Tierney scored the opening goal from outside the box for 3-2 two minutes into injury time.
Then, with time running out well beyond the first six extra minutes, from the halfway line McLean lobbed Kasper Schmeichel, who had strayed from his box in a last-ditch effort to salvage the draw.
His effort flew over the Danish keeper and into the empty net for 4-2, sparking frenzied scenes inside Hampden Park.
Scotland is back!
A dream comes true
Steve Clarke has already led Scotland to back-to-back European Championships
Sky Sports’ Alison Conroy was at Hampden Park:
Steve Clarke has made no secret of his desire to lead Scotland to a World Cup after failing to play as a player.
He was the epitome of calm on the touchline as McTominay’s stunner sent the Tartan Army into rapture.
Glorious failure and Scotland often go hand in hand, but this was a campaign filled with courage and desire as well as a bit of luck.
The unbeaten run ended in Greece on Saturday, but Belarus handed the Scots a lifeline by drawing in Copenhagen.
Scotland qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998
It’s taken six and a half years and the team deserves all the praise heaped on them.
For most of them this will be a third major tournament, but reaching the World Cup is special.
Forget medals, titles and Champions League cups. It’s a different level.
The draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place on December 5 in Washington.
President Trump will join FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the John F. Kennedy Center – a performance venue where Trump is president – to decide the schedule for the group stage.
In announcing the location of the draw at the White House in August, Trump said the World Cup was “the greatest sporting event,” while Infantino said the 104 matches would be like “104 Super Bowls.”
The draw will take place from 12:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. UK time).
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
This will be the 23rd edition of the tournament.
