Major Scotland World Cup qualifying draw update as four-team group confirmed

Due to draw complexities; teams can already be assigned to four-team groups depending on the number of teams in each pot needing a Nations League QF/playoff.

As Scotland will compete in the Nations League promotion/relegation playoffs, they will be assigned to a four-team group given the fixtures coincide with the first fixtures of teams in five-team groups.

The five-team groups will begin their qualifying campaigns in March – when Scotland are in Nations League action – with four-team groups to start qualifying matches in September.

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As a result of the draw complications, Scotland already know they will not face any of the six teams in Pot 5 of the World Cup qualifying draw.

Scotland could face any of the national teams in Pot 4 but know there are a number of sides impossible to draw in Pot 2.

Dale Johnson from ESPN made a slight error in his first post – there are NO Pot 1 restrictions for us

Therefore we CAN still draw England and Switzerland.

The fact we are definitely a 4 team group & face the below Pot 2 restrictions is still accurate

Updated draw details ⤵️ https://t.co/8LN27GBCD3 pic.twitter.com/zQ7rzyfhTu

— Scotland’s Coefficient (@scotlandscoeff1) November 20, 2024

Steve Clarke’s side cannot face Sweden, Wales, Poland, Romania, Czechia or Norway in World Cup qualifying.

However, Scotland could draw any of the teams in Pot 1 including England. 

2026 World Cup qualifying pots in full (teams Scotland cannot draw scored out)

Pot 1

France

Spain

England

Belgium

Portugal

Netherlands

Italy

Germany

Croatia

Switzerland

Denmark

Austria

Pot 2

Ukraine

Turkiye

Sweden

Wales

Poland

Hungary

Serbia

Greece

Romania

Slovakia

Norway

Czechia

Pot 3

SCOTLAND

Slovenia

Republic of Ireland

Albania

Finland

Georgia

North Macedonia

Iceland

Northern Ireland

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Montenegro

Israel

Pot 4

Bulgaria

Luxembourg

Belarus

Armenia

Kosovo

Kazakhstan

Azerbaijan

Estonia

Cyprus

Latvia

Faroe Islands

Lithuania

Pot 5

Moldova

Malta

Andorra

Gibraltar

Liechtenstein

San Marino