The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.
Scotland will take part in its ninth World Cup this summer and will see a familiar foe in the group stage for a record-tying fifth time.
The Scots are back for the first time since 1998. The 28-year wait was the country’s longest between World Cups, having previously missed three tournaments between 1958 and 1974 and one between 1990 and 1998.
And like they did in 1974, 1982, 1990, and 1998, Scotland was drawn into the same group with global powerhouse Brazil. Over their World Cup history, Scotland has played 23 matches and won just four of them. None of those four victories have come against the Seleção, who have three wins and a draw in their previous meetings.
Brazil (four times), Uruguay and Yugoslavia (twice) are the only countries Scotland has played more than twice in a World Cup.
“Bring it on,” said Scotland coach Steve Clarke to BBC Scotland following December’s World Cup draw. “Brazil, especially in a World Cup, is going to be a special occasion. The Brazilian fans are great, but the Tartan Army’s pretty special as well. We’re going to bring a little bit of magic as well, hopefully. It’s great to play them.”
Scotland and Brazil first met in the World Cup during the 1974 group stage, a nil-nil draw. That was the closest they would get to beating the now-five-time world champions. Eight years later, Brazil would win 4-1. Another eight years later, at Italia ‘90, it was Müller’s goal late in the match that would break the Scots’ hearts with a 1-0 final.
The last meeting between the nations came during the 1998 World Cup in France, which also saw Scotland and Brazil grouped with Morocco, three of the four teams who are in Group C in 2026. César Sampaio opened the scoring after five minutes, but John Collins equalized with a 38th-minute penalty for the Scots.
It would be heartbreak again for Scotland in the 71st minute after a Tom Boyd own goal helped Brazil to a 2-1 victory.
How will history play out this time? Scotland and Brazil will meet in the final group match for both teams on June 24 in Miami.
