Scotland's World Cup 2026 campaign faces elimination after a heavy defeat to Brazil left them clinging to third-place qualification. The loss dropped them from second to sixth in the third-place rankings, with their chances of reaching the last 32 now rated at just 43.5% by Opta. Steve Clarke's side finished their group on three points, trailing both Brazil and Morocco.

Before the Brazil match, Scotland occupied second spot among third-place teams, keeping their knockout hopes alive. However, the three-goal defeat plunged them into severe danger of elimination once all group fixtures conclude. Captain John McGinn admitted their situation is 'unlikely' while Andy Robertson described the upcoming days as 'horrible' given their precarious position.

Six teams still below Scotland in the third-place table have remaining fixtures that could determine the final standings. These include Cape Verde versus Saudi Arabia, New Zealand against Belgium, and Czech Republic facing Mexico. Each result will impact whether Scotland advances as one of the eight best third-place teams.

Scotland's fate now rests on other results going their way, making for an anxious wait before the knockout stage picture becomes clear. Their World Cup dreams hang by the narrowest of margins.