A quick goal for Morocco just seconds into the game made for a fierce World Cup game against Scotland as they fought to come back.

Despite making many chances for themselves in the second half, the final scored ended up being 1-0. It raises the question: What happens now?

It wouldn't immediately knock them out of the tournament if they lose this Group C match to Morocco, but it wouldn't be good.

The Scots travel to Miami for a meeting with world superpower Brazil to close out group play. Scotland certainly won’t be favored against Brazil on Wednesday, June 24, and it’ll need three points to reach the knockout stage.

The top two teams from the group stage advance, and there is a chance for some of the teams that rank third in the group stage to advance. But it will only be the top 8 of them. Scotland has never made it out of the group stage.

 Scotland currently has three points, ranked second behind Morocco (which has four points) in Group C.

What’s Scotland's World Cup record? 

Scotland hasn't been to the World Cup since the France tournament in 1998. 

They've made the tournament 8 times before this tournament, but have never made it out of the group round. They played in 1954, 1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1998.  

Scotland qualified for the 2026 World Cup in a qualifying gamed against Denmark in 

How does the World Cup tournament work?  

The 2026 World Cup tournament is the largest ever with 48 competing nations. For the group round, the teams have been divided into 12 groups of four. For, example Norway and Iraq are in Group I. In this phase of the tournament, the team play round robin style and are awarded three points for a win, one for a draw, and none if they lose. 

The top two teams in each group advance to the Round of 32, plus the eight best teams that came in third place in their groups. 

Tiebreakers in the group standings will be resolved using the following criteria: 

  • Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned 
  • Superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned 
  • Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned 
  • Superior goal difference in all group matches 
  • Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches 
  • Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained 
  • The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA Men's World Ranking 

Source: The Providence Journal