What time is the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw and who can Scotland face? Live stream and seeding details
Scotland fans have been dreaming of a World Cup appearance for what feels an age as they pray 2026 is the time to end a long wait.
A positive end to the Nations League saw Steve Clarke and Co pick up six points with victories against Croatia and Poland, after holding Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a draw at Hampden - breathing fresh hope into the country after a bruising Euro 2024, that ended with heartbreak against Hungary.
The international calendar feels more packed than ever and less, than six months after the final whistle in Germany during the summer, Scotland will find out which countries stand between them and a place in the USA, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Seven members of the most recent squad weren't even born the last time Scotland kicked off a World Cup, with memories of John Collins levelling against an all-star Brazil squad as the planet watched on feeling ever more distant. After a mixture of heartbreak and humiliation saw Scotland squads miss out in place at South Korea and Japan, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Russia and Qatar, surely it's now time for the Tartan Army to pack their bags and return to football's biggest stage?
As third seeds, it will be a challenge to book a ticket to the biggest show on the planet - and that was potentially made even tougher when FIFA altered the rules on sides being in five team groups, meaning the Dark Blues could face a bumper fixture list in the new year. Record Sport has all the details you need ahead as the nation gets set to dream once again.
When is the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers?
The draw for the European section of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers takes place on Friday December 13 from 11am (UK time). It’s taking place in Swiss city Zurich.
Who can Scotland face?
Scotland will face a team from pot one, pot two and pot four. And potentially one from pot five.
Pot 1: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, England, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria.
Pot 2: Ukraine, Sweden, Turkiye, Wales, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Czechia, Norway.
Pot 3: Scotland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel.
Pot 4: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Lithuania.
Pot 5: Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino.
How can I watch the draw?
The draw will be available to watch live on FIFA’s website and FIFA+. You’ll also be able to follow it LIVE on www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football.
When will the games take place?
The qualifiers will take place between March and November 2025 and dates will be confirmed officially after the draw, with play-offs to be held on Thursday 26 and Tuesday 31 March 2026.
How do the qualifiers work?
The format has an added complication of involving the Nations League - with 16 UEFA members qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in total. The 12 group winners qualify directly for the tournament, with the four remaining spots determined by play-offs involving the group runners-up. The 12 group runners-up will participate in the play-offs, along with the four best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that did not finish their European qualifiers group stage in first or second place.
The 16 teams who enter the play-offs will be drawn into four play-off paths, with four teams in each. Play-off matches will be played in single-leg semi-finals followed by single-leg finals all within the same international window in March 2026.
When does the 2026 World Cup start?
The World Cup gets underway on Thursday, June 11 with the opening two games being played in Mexico. From there fans can enjoy a feast of football for more than a month, until the final in New York on July 19 2026.
