Scotland

Scotland are the only British nation to have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, with their last appearance being 1998 in France — also featuring Brazil and Morocco in the group, an eerie 28-year repeat of the same opponents.

Craig Gordon, at 43 years and 162 days old on the tournament's opening day, is the oldest player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will become the second-oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup if he takes the field.

Scotland have never progressed beyond the World Cup group stage in eight previous appearances — their record of exiting on goal difference four times is unique in tournament history.

Scott McTominay was named Serie A's Most Valuable Player for 2024–25 after joining Napoli — becoming only the second Scot after Denis Law (1964) to win a major European league individual award.

The iconic qualifying moment: trailing 2–1 in stoppage time against Denmark at Hampden, Kieran Tierney curled in an equaliser in the 93rd minute, then Kenny McLean scored from the halfway line in the 98th to seal a 4–2 victory and World Cup qualification.

Archie Gemmill's slalom through the Dutch defence at the 1978 World Cup is one of the most replayed goals ever — Scotland beat eventual finalists Netherlands 3-2 yet still went home, and the goal was later immortalised in the film Trainspotting.

In 1967 Scotland beat England 3-2 at Wembley — England's first defeat since winning the World Cup — and Scottish fans gleefully crowned their team 'unofficial world champions', a joke that later spawned the real Unofficial Football World Championships.