Scotland vs Brazil Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
This is a huge game in Group C as Scotland bid to make it out of the group stages for the first time ever as they take on five-time world champions Brazil in Miami.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / ITVX / USA – FOX One
Scotland preview: Pushing for history
Scotland have been knocked out in the first round of a FIFA World Cup on a record eight occasions but The Tartan Army head into their final game knowing a draw would almost certainly qualify them for the knockouts - even limiting themselves to a low-scoring defeat could be enough.
Scotland edged past Haiti by a goal to nil in their opener with a deflected John McGinn strike before they then succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Morocco in Boston, with Ismael Saibari scoring for the Atlas Lions after just over a minute of the game. The Scots eventually got themselves into it but never really creating anything clear cut to get an equaliser.
Brazil preview: Finding form
Ever since the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti, the Brazilians have been a little inconsistent and underwhelming and that continued in their opener as they shared a 1-1 draw with Morocco in New York/New Jersey, with Ismael Saibari's opener cancelled out by a Vinicius Junior strike as the North Africans threatened to run riot against the Selecao.
In their second game, with some tweaks made by Ancelotti, the Brazilians hammered Haiti by three goals to nil, racing into a 3-0 lead by half-time with goals scored by Matheus Cunha, a brace, as well as another Vinicius Junior goal before they opted not to exert themselves too much in the second half in Philadelphia.
Scotland team news: Staying conservative
Steve Clarke returned to his conservative three-at-the-back system and he is again expected to go with that, despite Scott McKenna remaining a major doubt and Kieran Tierney suffering from cramp against Morocco.
As well as McKenna, full-back Aaron Hickey and midfielder Lewis Ferguson both missed training over the weekend with Clarke hopeful on their availability.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; Hickey, Christie, Ferguson, Robertson; McGinn, McTominay; Adams
Unavailable:
Questionable: McKenna (Fitness), Tierney (Fitness), Hickey (Injured), Ferguson (Injured)
Brazil team news: Raphinha out
Carlo Ancelotti cannot rotate as the Brazilians battle with Morocco to finish at the top of Group C and he has been dealt a blow with Raphinha unavailable due to a hamstring injury.
Bournemouth winger Rayan is expected to come in for the Barcelona man with legendary forward Neymar now available, although only expected to be on the bench.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Guimaraes; Rayan, Paqueta, Vinicius; Cunha
Unavailable: Raphinha (Injured)
Questionable:
Scotland’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Andy Robertson ($5.0m) – Defender
Scott McTominay ($6.5m) – Midfielder
John McGinn ($6.0m) – Midfielder
Matchday 3 captain pick: Scott McTominay
Set-piece duty
Penalties: John McGinn, Ryan Christie, Scott McTominay
Free kicks: Andy Robertson, John McGinn
Corners: Andy Robertson, John McGinn
Brazil’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Gabriel Magalhaes ($5.5m) – Defender
Vinicius Junior ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Matheus Cunha ($7.3m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Vinicius Junior
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Vinicius Junior, Paqueta
Free kicks: Bruno Guimaraes
Corners: Bruno Guimaraes
Key stats
- The sides have met four times at the FIFA World Cup, all in the group stage, with Brazil winning three and drawing one. Their first encounter was a goalless draw in 1974, followed by a 4-1 Brazilian victory in 1982 after falling behind. Brazil then won 1-0 in 1990 and completed the sequence with a 2-1 win in 1998.
- Scotland are winless in their eight previous World Cup matches against South American teams (D2 L6).
- Scotland are aiming to qualify for the knockout phase at the World Cup for the first time following eight previous group stage exits.
- Brazil have lost only one of their last 16 World Cup group matches against European teams (W12 D3).
- Brazil are unbeaten in their nine previous FIFA World Cup fixtures in the United States (W6 D3).
- Brazil have led at half-time on 44 occasions at the World Cup, and they have lost only once (W40 D3). Their sole defeat came against the Netherlands in the 2010 quarter-finals.
- Scotland captain Andy Robertson was a Liverpool team-mate of Brazil goalkeeper Alisson from 2018 to 2026.
- Scotland duo Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon-Doak play with Brazil’s Rayan at Bournemouth.
- Aaron Hickey (Scotland) and Igor Thiago (Brazil) are team-mates at Brentford.
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Scotland vs Brazil prediction
Scotland supporters have again expressed frustration at the style of football implemented by Steve Clarke. Clarke has done an excellent job in ending Scotland's then 23-year absence from major tournaments with qualification for UEFA EURO 2020 and UEFA EURO 2024, but poor group stage exits with an overly conservative approach may well now be being replicated in North America.
They do, though, face a Brazil side that find themselves in a fight for top spot with the Brazilians having a slightly better goal difference than Morocco, but Morocco likely to rack up a win against Haiti in their final game in Group C.
Scotland will aim for a point and sit back against a susceptible Brazil side, limiting themselves and likely leading to the quality of Brazil eventually winning out in Florida.
Scotland vs Brazil betting tip: Brazil to win & under 3.5 goals
