Ask Onix
Scotland ends 28-year World Cup drought in dramatic fashion
Scotland qualified for its first men's FIFA World Cup in 28 years Tuesday night, defeating Denmark 4-2 in a breathtaking qualifier at Glasgow's Hampden Park. The victory-sealed by three goals of rare brilliance-ended decades of near-misses and heartbreak, sending Steve Clarke's side to the 2026 tournament in North America.
The night's defining moments
Just three minutes into the match, midfielder Scott McTominay delivered what manager Clarke later called "the best overhead kick I've ever seen." Leaping to meet Ben Gannon-Doak's cross, the Napoli player executed a scissor-kick volley from nine feet in the air, rocketing the ball past Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. The strike drew immediate comparisons to iconic Scottish goals, including Archie Gemmill's 1978 World Cup wonder strike against the Netherlands.
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man! That is outrageous! I genuinely don't think I've ever seen a better goal."
Michael Stewart, former Scotland midfielder, on Sportsound
Denmark equalized after Lawrence Shankland tapped in a close-range rebound from Lewis Ferguson's corner, but the visitors' resistance crumbled in stoppage time. With Scotland facing the prospect of a playoff, Kieran Tierney-playing out of position at right-back-unleashed a curling left-footed shot from 20 yards that beat Schmeichel at his near post. The goal, Tierney's first in over a year following a hamstring injury, sent Hampden into raptures.
"It couldn't have happened to a more deserving player going through such hard times. That is just pure class."
Michael Stewart
The coup de grâce
As Denmark pushed for a late equalizer, Kenny McLean sealed Scotland's passage with a moment of audacity. Spotting Schmeichel off his line, the Norwich City midfielder chipped the ball from inside his own half-a 50-yard strike that arced into the net, sparking pandemonium in the stands and on the bench.
"When [Kenny] hit it, I thought, 'What are you doing?!' But when I saw it in flight, I thought, 'That's going to go in!'"
Steve Clarke, Scotland head coach
A campaign of resilience and redemption
Scotland's road to qualification was anything but smooth. After a shaky start to their campaign, Clarke's side strung together a series of gritty performances, blending youthful exuberance with veteran leadership. McTominay, Tierney, and McLean-all of whom faced criticism or injury setbacks-emerged as the architects of the decisive victory.
Clarke, who took charge in 2019, had previously guided Scotland to Euro 2020 (held in 2021) but saw his World Cup dreams dashed in a 2022 playoff loss to Ukraine. Tuesday's win vindicated his tactical flexibility, including the decision to deploy Tierney-a natural left-back-on the right flank in place of the fatigued Aaron Hickey.
"I spoke to Kieran before the first game. He's a key player for me, one of my men. I said, 'Aaron Hickey can't do back-to-back games. I see you coming on at right-back.' I'm not sure I envisioned the goal-but when it rolled back to him on his left foot, I knew he would score."
Steve Clarke
Legacy of 'glorious failure' finally laid to rest
The victory erases Scotland's reputation for dramatic near-misses, from the 1978 World Cup group-stage exit despite Gemmill's heroics to the 2007 "Paris goal" by James McFadden that wasn't enough to secure qualification. For a nation that has endured 28 years without a World Cup appearance-the longest drought in its history-the emotional release was palpable.
Former Scotland striker Steven Thompson, commentating for BBC Radio Scotland, captured the moment McLean's chip hit the net: "Shoot! Shoot! He's done him! He's done him!" Before dissolving into speechless euphoria alongside thousands of fans.
What's next: Preparing for North America
Scotland will learn its World Cup group-stage opponents in the draw on December 15, 2025. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, kicks off in June 2026. Clarke's side will enter as underdogs but with renewed belief after a campaign defined by late drama and individual brilliance.
For now, though, the focus remains on savoring a night that, as Clarke put it, "cashed in almost 30 years of glorious failure."
