Scotland Achieve World Cup Dream

Last-gasp strikes from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean book Scotland's place at World Cup 2026.

Scotland has gone from strength to strength in recent years. After qualifying for back-to-back Men’s Euros, the national team have now booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup thanks to late strikes from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean against Denmark.

Their chances of reaching their first World Cup since 1998 had been written off by many pundits before a ball was even kicked. But Scotland kept themselves firmly in the running after remaining unbeaten against bottom-placed Belarus, holding favourites Denmark to a draw in Copenhagen, and coming from behind to beat a well-drilled Greece side at Hampden.

A disappointing defeat in Athens briefly looked to have ended Scotland’s hopes of automatic qualification to the World Cup, but Steve Clarke’s men were handed a lifeline when Belarus secured a surprise draw in Copenhagen. That result meant Scotland knew a win against Denmark at Hampden would secure their place at the World Cup.

The Scots couldn’t have made a better start. Napoli’s cult hero Scott McTominay produced a stunning bicycle kick inside five minutes to put Scotland 1–0 up. After Denmark levelled from the penalty spot, it threatened to be another ‘oh-so-near’ moment for the Tartan Army.

Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland restored the lead with a textbook poacher’s finish, bringing qualification within reach. Hopes were dashed, however, when Manchester United’s Patrick Dorgu equalised almost instantly, setting up a tense finale to an all-or-nothing match.

Scotland threw the kitchen sink at Denmark in the closing stages. Long balls into the box sustained relentless pressure on the Danes. When a recycled cross was cleared only as far as an onrushing Kieran Tierney, the defender swept the ball past his Celtic teammate Kasper Schmeichel, sending Hampden into chaos.

Kenny McLean completed the job in stoppage time, lobbing the goalkeeper from the halfway line to seal one of the most historic results in Scottish football history.

Scottish hangovers will have to recover in time for next summer, when Scotland will face off against the world’s best in North America.

Image from Wikimedia Commons