Scotland, World Cup
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Scotland’s World Cup flame is burning more brightly than at any point since 1997. One win away from securing a berth back at a tournament where participation once felt like a birthright, everything is building towards an undoubtedly fraught but hopefully rewarding climax.
European qualifying for the 2026 World Cup has concluded with Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland and Austria securing the region’s remaining automatic spots.
After a bicycle kick early in its qualifying-group match against Denmark, Scotland needed — and got — late heroics to lock up a World Cup berth for the first time since 1998.
Scott McTominay's third-minute overhead kick was good enough to win any game but was ultimately just a blur as Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean struck in stoppage time, Tierney with a sublime left-footer and McLean a stunner from the halfway line.
Scott McTominay scored a superb bicycle kick goal three minutes into Scotland’s match against Denmark in European qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.