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 pretty much certainly qualify them for the knockouts - and 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 - with the Scots eventually getting 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
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
Brazil team news
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
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
Raphinha ($5.5m) – Midfielder
Vinicius Junior ($10.0m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Vinicius Junior
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Raphinha, Igor Thiago
Free kicks: Raphinha
Corners: Bruno Guimaraes
Key stats
- Coming soon
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
