Scotland qualify for first World Cup since 1998 with dramatic late win over Denmark – The Athletic
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Scotland have qualified for the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1998 after a dramatic late 4-2 win over Denmark on Tuesday.
Two stoppage-time goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean sealed Scotland’s spot at next summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada after Denmark had twice come from behind at Hampden Park.
Scotland went into Tuesday’s final qualifier knowing only a win would secure a place at next summer’s tournament. Steve Clarke’s side had lost 3-2 in Greece on Saturday, but with Denmark being held by Belarus, this left just a point between the two sides heading into Tuesday’s match.
Scott McTominay had Scotland ahead inside three minutes when he met Ben Doak’s cross with a fantastic overhead kick, which Kasper Schmeichel could not get a hand to, despite flying to his right.
McTominay celebrates his opening goal (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund missed several first-half chances as Scotland held onto their slender lead into the break, but the 22-year-old levelled the match from the penalty spot on 57 minutes, Andy Robertson penalised for a challenge on Gustav Isaksen following a lengthy VAR intervention.
With 29 minutes to regain a lead, Scotland were handed a boost when Rasmus Kristensen brought down John McGinn, who had him beat just inside the Denmark half, leading to a second yellow card and player advantage for the hosts.
Lawrence Shankland sparked pandemonium in Glasgow, when he found himself on the end of Lewis Ferguson’s corner 12 minutes from time to put his side ahead. The excitement, however, was quelled just four minutes later when Patrick Dorgu equalised after being teed up on his left foot by Andreas Christensen.
But Tierney secured Scotland’s spot at the next summer’s World Cup when he curled home a fine strike from around 20 yards, three minutes into stoppage time. McLean made sure of the victory when he audaciously lobbed Schmeichel from just inside Denmark’s half with the last kick of the game.
“It’s been a long time,” McLean told the BBC. “We knew we had the ability to do it but obviously late on it feels more special. Tierney scored the third best goal of the game and it was a belter. It’s amazing, we’ve spoken about it the last few days, but to actually achieve it, incredible honestly. Incredible.”
(Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Scotland made five consecutive World Cup appearances between 1974 and 1990, but have failed to qualify since the 1998 edition, where they exited at the group stages.
They follow in the footsteps of Norway, who also secured their place at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 on Sunday.
Clarke was appointed manager in 2019 and guided Scotland to qualification for the European Championship in 2020 and 2024, where they again suffered group stage exits. They reached the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup, but were beaten in the semi-finals by Ukraine.
Scotland will learn their World Cup group stage opponents during the draw on Friday, December 5.
Denmark, meanwhile, who have qualified for three of the last four editions of the World Cup, must instead progress through the play-offs if they are to qualify for next summer’s tournament. The play-off draw takes place on Thursday.
Scotland captain Andy Robertson said his thoughts were with his late Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota throughout his side’s historic qualification for the World Cup on Tuesday.
Robertson and Jota played alongside each other for five seasons at Anfield from 2020-2025, and Robertson said they had “always discussed” the prospect of playing at the 2026 World Cup, having both missed the prior edition in Qatar.
Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car accident in Spain in July.
“I’ve hid it well, but today I’ve been in bits,” Robertson said. “I know the age I’m at, this could be my last chance for the World Cup, I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out my head today.
“We spoke so much together about the World Cup. He missed out in Qatar because of injury, I missed out because Scotland never went, we always discussed what it would be like going to this World Cup, I know he’ll be somewhere smiling over me. I couldn’t get him out of my head the whole day. I’m so glad it’s ended up this way.”
Robertson and Jota won four trophies together at Liverpool: the 2024-25 Premier League, an FA Cup and two League Cups. Jota, meanwhile, also won the Nations League twice with Portugal.
