Scotland are nonetheless in with an opportunity of qualifying robotically for the 2026 World Cup regardless of dropping 3-2 to Greece in a thriller in Group C.
Anastasios Bakasetas’ seventh-minute strike gave Greece a deserved opener, and second-half strikes from Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis appeared to have condemned Scotland to the play-offs.
Scotland, although, fought again in a exceptional second half, Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie teeing up a grandstand end, with the stress heightened by a purple card for Bakasetas and developments in Copenhagen.
With Scotland dropping, a win for Denmark towards Belarus would have primarily clinched their place within the finals in North America.
However Belarus got here from behind to steer 2-1 and, although Denmark discovered an equaliser whereas Scotland failed to take action, the mix of outcomes nonetheless leaves Scotland with the prospect to clinch a spot within the finals for the primary time since 1998 on Tuesday.
Scotland will host Denmark at Hampden Park in a winner-take-all match, although they might want to drastically enhance defensively if they’re to tug off an historic upset.
Bakasetas lashed residence the opener for Greece after Craig Gordon had made a superb save to disclaim Vangelis Pavlidis.
Greece continued to pepper the Scotland aim thereafter, with Gordon producing a pair of nice saves to disclaim Tzolis and in addition pulling off an excellent low cease to maintain out a near-postPanagiotis Retsos header.
Vangelis Pavlidis then turned large with the aim seemingly at his mercy, with the Benfica striker then pressured off by damage.
However Scotland grew into proceedings on the finish of the primary half, with Scott McTominay predictably to the fore.
The Napoli star clattered the crossbar with a curling long-range effort, earlier than Che Adams and Ben Gannon-Doak every spurned possibilities teed up by McTominay.
Christie and Adams mixed to let slip a golden alternative to stage eight minutes into the second half, and Scotland had been punished as Karetsas’ whipped end and a long-range effort from Tzolis that Gordon ought to have saved appeared to have ended the sport as a contest.
However Gannon-Doak turned residence his first Scotland aim from John McGinn’s low cross and Christie headed residence an Andrew Robertson supply to reignite perception that grew additional as information of developments in Denmark filtered by.
Bakasetas was despatched off as he acquired a gentle second yellow for elbowing Lewis Ferguson within the abdomen, however Scotland did not take benefit, with Odysseas Vlachodimos producing a surprising save together with his legs to maintain out a McTominay header together with his leg.
Vlachodimos was not severely examined following that probability, however Belarus’ resolve in hanging on in Copenhagen means Scotland can nonetheless finish qualifying with an historic achievement.
Greece group vs Scotland
Greece beginning XI: Vlachodimos, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas, Kourbelis, Mouzakitis, Karetsas, Bakasetas, Tzolis, Pavlidis.
Greece substitutes: Tzolakis, Mandas, Michailidis, Masouras, Kostoulas, Rota, Triantis, Hatzidiakos, Tetteh, Mantalos, Siopis.
Scotland group vs Greece
Scotland beginning XI: Gordon, Hickey, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson, Ferguson, Christie, McGinn, McTominay, Gannon-Doak, Adams.
Scotland substitutes: Kelly, Bain, Tierney, Irving, Dykes, Hendry, Barron, McKenna, Hirst, Shankland, Ralston, McLean.
2026 World Cup playoffs dates
The highest group from every of the 12 European Qualifier teams proceeds robotically to the finals, which will probably be expanded to 48 groups.
The 12 runners-up in every group will be part of 4 Nations League groups within the two-legged play-off ties, which will probably be drawn from pots based mostly on groups’ data through the marketing campaign and happen on March 26 and 31 2026.
When is the draw for the 2026 World Cup finals?
The draw for the World Cup finals will happen on December 5 2025 on the Kennedy Heart in Washington DC, with the ceremony beginning at 17:00 GMT (12:00 ET/ 09:00 PT).
The match runs from June 11 till July 19 2026.
