Live Coverage: Scotland vs Belarus in World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

In a crucial match for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, Scotland faced Belarus at Hampden Park. The encounter marked Scotland manager Steve Clarke’s 72nd game, making him the longest-serving manager in terms of matches for the national team. Both teams aimed for victory to enhance their prospects in Group C.

Match Overview

Scotland entered the match in strong form, having recently secured a comeback victory against Greece. This success provided a boost of optimism to fans, who remembered Scotland’s last World Cup qualification in 1998.

Belarus, however, struggled in the qualifiers. They were positioned at the bottom of Group C, having yet to score a point. Their previous encounter ended in a 2-0 defeat against Scotland.

Match Details

• Date: Match day was set for an afternoon kickoff.
• Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland.
• Current Group Standings:
  • Denmark: Played 3, Points 7, Goal Difference +9
  • Scotland: Played 3, Points 7, Goal Difference +4
  • Greece: Played 3, Points 3, Goal Difference -1
  • Belarus: Played 3, Points 0, Goal Difference -12

Team News

Head coach Steve Clarke made five changes to his squad compared to the last match against Greece. The new lineup aimed to reinforce both defense and midfield.

• Scotland Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
  • Goalkeeper: Gunn
  • Defenders: Ralston, Hendry, McKenna, Robertson
  • Midfielders: McLean, Gilmour
  • Forwards: Gannon-Doak, McTominay, McGinn, Adams
• Belarus Potential Lineup (4-4-1-1):
  • Goalkeeper: Lapoukhov
  • Defenders: Pigas, Parkhomenko, Martynovich, Zabelin
  • Midfielders: Malashevich, Ebong, Yablonskiy, Pechenin
  • Forward: Gromyko; Barkovsky

Expectations and Outlook

Scotland aimed to dominate possession and secure a solid result against a Belarus side that had proven challenging in past encounters. Fans expressed hope for a decisive victory, leading to a stronger position in the ongoing qualifying campaign.

The next important match for Scotland is against Denmark on November 18, where a win could secure their spot in the World Cup. Overall, this match against Belarus was seen as a pivotal step in that direction.