Scotland are going to the World Cup!
Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean were stoppage-time heroes, as the Scots beat 10-player Denmark 4-2 to secure automatic qualification.
After back-to-back European Championships, head coach Steve Clarke leads the nation back to football’s biggest tournament for the first time since 1998.
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Scottish fans went wild at fan parks as Scott McTominay’s stunning overhead kick gave Scotland an early lead against Denmark in their World Cup Qualifier
Scotland knew only a win would do – Scott McTominay sent them on their way with a spectacular bicycle kick after just three minutes.
Denmark only needed a draw to top the group and Rasmus Hojlund, denied in the first half, levelled from the penalty spot after a lengthy VAR check of Andy Robertson’s foul on Gustav Isaksen.
With the Danes down to 10 men after Rasmus Kristensen’s second booking, Lawrence Shankland came off the bench to send the Scots back in front only for Patrick Dorgu to level again minutes later.
Kieran Tierney is mobbed by his Scotland team-mates after his stoppage-time goal set them on their way to victory over Denmark
A nation believed and the dream came true as first Tierney fired home from outside the box for 3-2 two minutes into added time.
Then as the clock ticked well beyond the initial six added minutes, from the halfway line, McLean lobbed Kasper Schmeichel, who had strayed out of his area in a last-ditch effort to salvage a draw.
His effort looped over the Denmark goalkeeper and into the empty net for 4-2 to set off scenes of delirium inside Hampden Park.
Scotland are back!
A dream becomes reality
Steve Clarke has already led Scotland to back-to-back European Championships
Sky Sports’ Alison Conroy was at Hampden Park:
Steve Clarke made no secret of his desire to lead Scotland to a World Cup after missing out as a player.
He was the epitome of calmness on the touchline as McTominay’s stunner sent the Tartan Army into raptures.
Glorious failure and Scotland often go hand in hand, but this was a campaign filled with grit and desire as well as a little bit of luck.
The unbeaten run ended in Greece on Saturday, but Belarus handed the Scots a lifeline by drawing in Copenhagen.
Scotland have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998
This has been six and a half years in the making and the squad deserve all the praise coming their way.
For most of them it will be a third major tournament, but reaching the World Cup is special.
Forget the Champions League medals, titles and cups. This is a different level.
The draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place in Washington on December 5.
President Trump will join FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the John F Kennedy Center – a performing arts venue where Trump is chairman – to decide the group stage fixtures.
Announcing the draw venue at the White House in August, Trump said the World Cup was “the biggest event in sports”, while Infantino declared the 104 matches would be like “104 Super Bowls”.
The draw will take place from 12pm local time (5pm UK time).
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
It will be the 23rd edition of the tournament.