What do Scotland and Brazil need to qualify for the World Cup knockouts from Group C?
If Scotland lose, their World Cup fate will be in the balance. The good news for Scotland is they only lost 1-0 to Morocco. If they repeat the trick against Brazil and only lose by a one-goal margin, they will finish the group stage on three points and with a goal difference of -1. Based on previous editions of the European Championships that could be good enough to go through as one of the eight-best third-placed teams. But they would be right on the fence.
Jamie Braidwood24 June 2026 19:56
Scotland v Brazil early team news: Gannon-Doak to return?
Scotland are sweating on the availability of Scott McKenna, Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson, who all missed training at the weekend, while a question mark remains over the selection of Ben Gannon-Doak, who was brought on as a substitute against Morocco, to widespread surprise that he wasn’t a starter. Does Steve Clarke give Gannon-Doak a start today to try and get some threat into his side?
Brazil will be without Raphinha, who picked up a hamstring injury against Haiti, while Neymar is fit to feature after injury but may only make the bench.
Jamie Braidwood24 June 2026 19:41
The unexpected winners of the World Cup? Americans
In Boston, Massachusetts, where 50,000 bagpipe-playing Scotland supporters descended and promptly drank up all the beer, the locals were charmed. Senator Ed Markey — a usually mild-mannered 79-year-old — tweeted “No Scotland, no party” with a video of himself with his arms around Scotland supporters in pubs and bars in the city. Even the Iraq fans found themselves dancing in the streets alongside their Scottish brethren.
State Sen. Paul Feeney published an emotional Instagram reel as the Scots left for New York, recalling the antics of the Tartan army — including leaving traffic cones on the heads of every statue — with misty-eyed nostalgia. The Boston Red Sox president even wrote a letter thanking the Tartan Army for its presence and energy to the Scotland Football Association, after Scottish fans turned up to cheer for them at Fenway Park. And Friday’s edition of The Boston Globe featured a full-page spread thanking the Tartan Army for “the laughter, the bagpipes, and the memories”.
At the end of it all, Mayor Michelle Wu, dressed in a pink Scotland jersey, announced an official partnership with Glasgow for years to come. Scottish supporters gathered behind her chanted, “No Wu, no party!” as she did so.
The unexpected winners of the World Cup? Americans
Holly Baxter writes about the unexpectedly heartwarming and heartrending moments — from Freddy the German to Norwegian longboats on the New York City subway and an unlikely social media star from Cape Verde — that have played out on the sidelines of 2026’s World Cup
Holly Baxter 24 June 2026 19:26
‘It’s been wild’: The unexpected story behind the (unofficial) Scotland World Cup song
A deadpan electro-ballad name-checking Scott McTominay has become the best World Cup song of the summer. Its creator, JJ Bull, talks to Patrick Smith about how it ‘just downloaded’ into his head
Jamie Braidwood24 June 2026 19:13
Scotland v Brazil kick-off time and how to watch
Scotland face Brazil at the Miami Stadium on Wednesday 24 June, with kick-off at 11pm BST. Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with coverage beginning at 10pm BST.
Chris Wilson24 June 2026 19:00
Steve Clarke on whether Scotland will adapt when they face Brazil
Steve Clarke: “I’ve got the Scottish media here and they kill me for being too conservative. I think we’ve shown in my time in charge, whether some people agree or not, that we can be very flexible with our system. For the game tomorrow, we’ll have to wait and see because I don’t want to tell Carlo Ancelotti what we’ll do.”
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Jamie Braidwood24 June 2026 18:51
Andy Robertson hoping to give Scotland fans another reason to party in Miami
The Tartan Army have enjoyed themselves in the USA and they would no doubt raise a glass or two should Scotland beat Brazil tonight to qualify for the World Cup knockout stages.
“Our fans are the best in the world. Everywhere they go, people fall in love with them,” captain Andy Robertson said. “I think you’ve seen how much the whole city of Boston fell in love with the Tartan Army, and I think they’re gutted now that they’ve left.
“I think the whole of the Tartan Army want that, and that would be something to celebrate, but we’re a long way off that sitting here just now and hopefully when it comes to the time tomorrow, then we’ll be back closer.
“Come tomorrow night, if we manage to beat Brazil, like I’m using your words now, if we manage to beat Brazil, then I’m sure maybe a couple of beers will be drank by the Tartan Army, that’s for sure.
“But that’s what we hope, because we want to give them something to shout about. We want to give them something to be happy about and, obviously, also if we win the game then we’ve created history.”
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Jamie Braidwood24 June 2026 18:34
Steve Clarke expects Brazil to bring their attacking DNA
Steve Clarke on Brazil: “I think the characteristics of Brazil as a national team is they have to attack. These are the characteristics that people expect from a Brazil team. I think they’ve shown in the matches so far in this tournament that they can be a big threat, and I’m sure they expect to be minimum last four in the competition.”
On how Scotland can offer threat: “Pick the right team, get the right tactics, and rely on the players to do that on the pitch. We know what we have to do – don’t over-commit going forward, don’t leave yourself open to a counter-attack. And when we have the ball, use the it really well and create chances.”
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Jamie Braidwood24 June 2026 18:17
Has Fifa’s new World Cup format made the group stage less exciting?
Jamie Braidwood24 June 2026 18:00
This baffling Fifa decision could ruin the World Cup’s famous group stage drama
The final round of group stage games will lack the drama of 2022, with a strange decision to revamp the tie-breaking rules likely to produce a number of dead rubbers
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer24 June 2026 17:48