Credit: BBC Sports, Imago

Evan Lloyd

Mon 8 December 2025 10:30, UK

Wayne Rooney has backed Scotland for next year’s World Cup, which will be their first appearance in the competition since 1998.

Scotland confirmed their qualification for the World Cup after beating Denmark 4-2 last month, in what was a thrilling affair.

With the scores locked at 2-2 in stoppage time, both Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean would score brilliant goals to send Hampden Park into raptures.

John McGinn is expected to be key for Scotland at next year’s competition, with the midfielder in great form for Aston Villa.

And Scotland are attempting to convince Harvey Barnes to switch allegiances, with Steve Clarke keen to add the Newcastle United winger to his squad.

Wayne Rooney predicts positive World Cup for Scotland

Scotland have been in very good form of late, with a narrow defeat to Greece representing their only loss across the last seven games.

Aided by Serie A champion Scott McTominay and high-flying Villa captain McGinn, the Tartan Army will hope to cause an upset in North America.

Scotland’s last World Cup, hosted by France, saw Craig Brown’s side knocked out in the group stage after losing to Brazil and Morocco, as well as drawing with Norway.

But there is a different feel around Clarke’s current squad, with fans hoping to be shocked by what emerges next year.

Scotland have been drawn in group C and will once again face Morocco and Brazil, with the other entrants, Haiti, also making a return to the World Cup after a long absence.

The Tartan Army will fancy their chances against five-time World Cup winners Brazil, with Carlo Ancelotti‘s team not having enjoyed the best of recent form.

Losses to Bolivia and Japan have knocked the South American giants in recent months, with November’s 1-1 draw with Tunisia not doing much to restore confidence.

Rooney was asked about Scotland’s chances of making it out of the group, and told The Wayne Rooney Show on Monday: “Yeah, I think they can. I think they’ve got a good chance.

“The way they’ve been playing and the results they’ve been picking up, I think they’ll have a chance. It’ll be interesting all of the Scots over in Boston.

“Boston’s a big Irish place so that’ll be really interesting. But I think they’ve got a chance, yeah.”

Bullish Steve Clarke ready to make a splash

Scotland will go to the World Cup as underdogs, of course, and will hope to use that tag to their advantage.

“Bring it on,” said Clarke when asked about his team’s reaction to the draw. “The draw’s fantastic.

“One of the big things in my head was no European teams. So we’re playing three top sides from three different continents of the world and that’s what the World Cup’s all about.”

Scotland will first take on Haiti and Morocco in Boston, before rounding off the group against Brazil in Miami.