Scotland have a chance to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time when they meet Morocco.
Steve Clarke’s men ended their country’s wait for a first World Cup victory since 1990 when they beat Haiti 1-0 in their first Group C match.
With the top eight third-place finishers through to the knockout stages, this result could prove to be enough for Scotland.
But they will be looking to dispel any doubts by upsetting the odds against a Morocco side who won the match 3-0 in the last game of Scotland’s 1998 preliminary final.
Scotland fans will be keen to see their team avenge their defeat, although that is easier said than done.
The Atlas Lions were impressive in a pulsating first half of their opener against Brazil, although they were unable to claim all three points as Ismael Saibara’s opener was canceled out by Vinicius Junior.
However, it was a display that highlighted why Morocco are desperate to push back into the tournament after reaching the semi-finals in 2022.
And Clarke and Scotland captain Andy Robertson know the challenge they face against a team that won the controversial African Cup of Nations title this year.
“Whenever you play a team that’s in the top 10 in the world, you know you’re going to have to be good off the ball and with the ball,” Clarke said in his pre-match press conference.
“We’re under no illusions about the size of the task for the next game. Morocco made the last four at the last World Cup and I think this team is a bit better than that – it gives you an idea of the task ahead.”
Asked about the possibility of a first knockout appearance, Robertson said: “I don’t think any of the lads and the coaching staff are shying away from our desire to be the first team to be able to do that for our country.
“We know how difficult it will be, we played against one of the best teams in the world, but we believe we can make any game difficult and if we can do that, put in the best results, then I believe we can get what we want and hopefully be the ones to go down in history.”
FIFA World Cup 2026: Scotland v Morocco team news
Scott McKenna (calf) is a doubt for Scotland, while Morocco have no further injury problems.
Scotland vs Morocco predicted line-ups for World Cup 2026
Scotland: Hann; Hickey, Hendry, Hanley, Robertson; Gannon-Doak, Ferguson, McTominay, McGinn; Adams, Shankland
Morocco: Bono; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Ainaoui, Bouadi; Diaz, Unahi, El Hanouss; Saibari
Where to watch Scotland – Morocco: TV channel, live online broadcasts
Kicks off on Friday at 11pm BST (6pm ET / 3pm PT). In the UK, ITV1 broadcasts live.
Fans can stream the action via ITV website and the ITVX app, available on a variety of devices for on-the-go viewing.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Statistics Scotland – Morocco
- The only previous meeting between these teams came during the group stage of the 1998 finals, when Morocco won 3-0 in the biggest win in World Cup history
- Scotland have won eight of their last 11 competitive matches (D1 D2) and five of their last six (D1), with their only defeats coming at home and away to Greece
- John McGinn scored 21 goals under coach Steve Clarke for Scotland, the most goals scored by a player under one Scotland manager alongside Dennis Law under Ian McCall (21 in 21 games).
- For the first time, the Tartan Army was able to win more than one game and back-to-back games in a major tournament
- Clarke leads Scotland to a third major tournament after EURO 2020 and EURO 2024, more than any other national team head coach
- Including an appearance at the EUROS, Scotland have failed to get past the first round in any of their 12 previous attempts at a major competition
- Nine of Morocco’s last 12 World Cup matches have come against European sides, and no team has played as many games against European opposition at the tournament since the 2018 finals
- Morocco have lost one of their last six World Cup group matches against European opposition (W2 L3) – a 1-0 defeat against Portugal in 2018
- They are unbeaten in their last five World Cup group stage matches (W2 D3), the joint-best record by an African nation, with Cameroon unbeaten in five between 1982 and 1990, while Senegal went five unbeaten in group matches between 2002 and 2018.
- Reigning African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi has made more tackles (26) than any other player in 2022 World Cup and recorded the second most ground duels won (41)
- Midfielder Ayoub Bouadi captained the France Under-21 team until the midfielder’s move to Morocco was approved in May. Brahim Diaz, who scored 5 goals at this year’s African Cup of Nations, was born in Spain
World Cup 2026: Scotland – Morocco prediction
Scotland will be backed by a vocal away support for the second consecutive game in Foxborough, but a return to earth against a side of Morocco’s caliber seems likely.
Prediction: Scotland 1-2 Morocco
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