Cautious optimism and complications as Scotland's World Cup qualifying draw creates new 'auld enemy'

Group C is for Cautious. Cautious optimism. Fernando Llorente, the former Spain striker, has some history with Scotland having stepped off the bench to score a late winner at Hampden during Craig Levein’s reign as manager to all but snuff out the hosts’ chances of qualifying for Euro 2012.

It was his last international goal. Now 39, Llorente has partly made up for this after pulling out Scotland’s ball in a comparatively kindly World Cup qualifying group ahead of the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The top two places had already been allotted to the losers of the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark and the new ‘auld enemy’ in the form of Greece. Belarus, whose mere presence in the draw was controversial due to their tacit support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, were later added to the four-team group during the inevitably long-winded process in Zurich, where Steve Clarke was in attendance.

Steve Clarke's Scotland have been drawn against Portugal or Denmark, Greece and Belarus in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Pic: Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA Wire. | Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA Wire

The Scotland manager is an inscrutable character at the best of times. However, he did not look too displeased. “I’m not one to overthink it,” he later said. “But there’s a lot of interesting matches.”

The road to New Jersey, where the final will be played on July 19, has begun. The Scotland manager will know what to ask for this Christmas, if he didn’t already: the Big Bumper Book of Greek football. Indeed, the SFA might consider renting him a villa in Athens.

Games against Greece, currently managed by Ivan Jovanovic, will go a long way to shaping Scotland’s destiny in 2025. Clarke and his team were already gearing up for a two-legged Nations League play-off tie against the same opponents as they look to extend their stay in the top tier of the competition.

They will now meet each other four times in the next 11 months, including in qualifying for a tournament Clarke has already suggested will be his last as Scotland manager. If he is successful in leading Scotland to the next World Cup, it will stand as his greatest achievement.

Scotland have been placed into Group C following the World Cup 2026 qualifying draw. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

His side lost in a play-off against Ukraine for the last finals in Qatar. Scotland remain engaged in a great quest to qualify stretching back to their last appearance at a World Cup in 1998. The latest attempt will not begin until September, with eight games crammed in between then and the end of November.

Scotland’s aim is to finish first and secure automatic qualification - Portugal beating Denmark in March might help towards that end. The next best outcome – and the only other acceptable alternative - will be finishing second to book their place in the play-offs, which will involve 16 teams in Spring 2026.

The details have now become much clearer though the Tartan Army will be advised to hold off making too many plans. Not only is the schedule of matches still to be announced, but the situation has been complicated by the presence of Pot 4 team Belarus in the group.

FIFA have banned the country from hosting games in Belarus due to their involvement alongside Russia in the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. Their last ‘home’ match in October against Luxembourg was held behind closed doors in Hungary. The attendance record of the most committed Tartan Army members might be set to take a hit but there is little else to complain about. Now over to Scott McTominay and co.