{"id":34331,"date":"2025-11-18T20:03:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T20:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=34331"},"modified":"2025-11-18T20:03:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T20:03:59","slug":"scotland-v-denmark-world-cup-2026-qualifying-live-world-cup-2026-qualifiers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=34331","title":{"rendered":"Scotland v Denmark: World Cup 2026 qualifying \u2013 live | World Cup 2026 qualifiers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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16 min <\/strong>Hojlund blasts a dangerous ball across the face of goal, the kind he wants to be on the end of, then has a header blocked by a defender. Good spell this for Denmark.<\/p>\n

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14 min <\/strong>Hojbjerg shoots over from distance after an extended spell of possession for Denmark, who are trying to take the sting out of the game. This is a key period, potentially Scotland\u2019s best chance to get the job done.<\/p>\n

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12 min <\/strong>\u201cI haven\u2019t felt that good since Scott McTominay scored against Denmark in 2025,\u201d writes David Manby.<\/p>\n

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10 min <\/strong>Joachim Andersen is booked for a cynical foul on John McGinn. Scotland are a model of controlled aggression and Denmark look rattled.<\/p>\n

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8 min <\/strong>I still can\u2019t spake.<\/p>\n

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7 min<\/strong> Rasmus Hojlund strolls through one on one and is denied superbly by Craig Gordon. The flag goes up for offside as soon as the ball is dead, but it was pretty tight \u2013 probably just offside.<\/p>\n

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5 min <\/strong>I can\u2019t spake.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a014.54 EST<\/p>\n

What a goal! What an unbelievable goal from Scott McTominay! <\/strong>Gannon-Doak intercepted an attempted clearance on the right, turned aaway from a defender and lifted a routine left-foot cross towards McTominay. He was 10 yards out, facing away from goal, with the ball at head height \u2013 and then he launched into an outrageous overhead kick that bounced into the corner of the net.<\/p>\n

The ball was head height, maybe even higher. McTominay did well to reach the ball, never mind guide it past the diving Schmeichel. That\u2019s one of the greatest goals in Scottish football history.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a014.57 EST<\/p>\n

GOLAZOOOOOOOO! Scotland 1-0 Denmark (McTominay 3)<\/h2>\n

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it\u2019s Scott Effing McTominay!<\/p>\n

<\/span>Outrageous scenes from Hampden Park!<\/span> Photograph: Andrew Milligan\/PAShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a014.55 EST<\/p>\n

3 min<\/strong> \u201cPessimism might just have the edge \u2013 at least in Duncan Hunter\u2019s case; he got soundly done by a cleverer opponent and was sent off to sit out the action for many years,\u201d writes Charles Antaki. \u201cAs it happens, he was morally righteous, and deserved better, but that didn\u2019t seem to count. No allegories there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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2 min <\/strong>McGinn turns smartly but then overhits a chipped pass down the left to Robertson. It\u2019s a pig of a night in Glasgow, cold and wet.<\/p>\n

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1 min <\/strong>To a huge roar from the assembled masochists home support, <\/strong>Scotland kick off from right to left.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a014.49 EST<\/p>\n

\u201cThe voices in my head today,\u201d<\/strong> begins Justin Kavanagh, \u201care having this conversation\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

DI Jimmy Perez <\/strong>I\u2019m not gonna lie to you, Duncan. Watching you live your life is like watching Scotland try to qualify for the World Cup, It\u2019s frustrating. Embarrassing. At times excruciating. But ultimately, I live in hope that you\u2019ll get there in the end.<\/p>\n

Duncan Hunter<\/strong> How many World Cups do you think we\u2019ve got left at our age? Three?<\/p>\n

DI Jimmy Perez<\/strong> Away you go. We\u2019ve got six or seven at least.<\/p>\n

Duncan Hunter<\/strong> That\u2019s the difference between me and you. You\u2019re an optimist at heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut can<\/em> you be an optimist as a Scot?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erm, depends if you\u2019re a football fan?<\/p>\n

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A reminder of the teams<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scotland (4-2-3-1ish) <\/strong>Gordon; Hickey, Souttar, McKenna, Robertson; Christie, Ferguson; Gannon-Doak, McTominay, McGinn; Dykes.<\/p>\n

Subs: Kelly, Bain, Hanley, Tierney, Irving, Adams, Hendry, Barron, Hirst, Shankland, Ralston, McLean.<\/p>\n

Denmark (4-2-3-1ish) <\/strong>Schmeichel; Kristensen, Andersen, Christensen, Dorgu; Hjulmand, Hojbjerg; Isaksen, Frohold, Damsgaard; Hojlund.<\/p>\n

Subs: Hermansen, Jorgensen, Vestergaard, Hogsberg, Nartey, O\u2019Riley, Eriksen, Norgaard, Billing, Wind, Biereth, Bruun Larsen.<\/p>\n

Referee<\/strong> Szymon Marciniak (Poland)<\/p>\n

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Steve Clarke’s pre-match thoughts<\/h2>\n

[On his team selection] A little bit of freshness. The striker one is pretty straightforward \u2013 we ask a lot of the lone striker and Che [Adams] got the hard shit the other night. At the back I was looking for a bit more balance; Scott being a left-footer gets the nod.<\/p>\n

It\u2019d be nice to start well. That\u2019s something we\u2019ve discussed. When we have the chance, we have to play \u2013 be progressive, create chances. If the game has to be physical we\u2019ve got players who can do that.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m ready, the players are the ready. The fans: I hope they\u2019re ready and that they get behind thee team from the first minute to the last.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHiya Rob,\u201d<\/strong> writes James Humphries. \u201cYou might call the atmosphere of the pub I\u2019m in \u2018nervous anticipation\u2019, but I think \u2018sick dread\u2019 is probably more accurate. Had the horrifying realisation after Ireland\u2019s result that things are now falling into place for us to once again be on the wrong end of someone else\u2019s feelgood story in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway, we all know what happens when I email in during games (see eg Celtic-Motherwell), so you\u2019ll just have to imagine my pained howls as the disaster unfolds.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m only 450 miles away so I\u2019d imagine I\u2019ll hear them.<\/p>\n

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\u201cEvening Rob,\u201d<\/strong> writes Simon McMahon. \u201cI\u2019ve avoided the build up to tonight\u2019s winner takes all showdown at Hampden all day, but no longer. June 1998 is etched into my memory as not only the month that Scotland last played a game in the World Cup finals, but also when, what was it, oh yes, my first child was born. Twenty seven years of hurt since. And the football hasn\u2019t been much fun either. But all that could change tonight\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019re going to reveal you became a father in June 1990?<\/p>\n

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‘At least this wee fella loves me’<\/h2>\n

This piece by Scott Murray is 13 years old, yet it\u2019s somehow timeless.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no need to be raking over the ashes of the 1978 campaign again, other than to recall one of the great press conferences, poor Ally MacLeod bending down to stroke a stray dog in attempt to dodge the brickbats aimed at his noggin in the wake of Scotland\u2019s miserable draw with Iran. \u201cAt least this wee fella loves me,\u201d he simpered, nanoseconds before the cur sank its gnashers into the hand of the Souness-shunning sadsack.<\/p>\n

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This is great fun<\/strong>. Since you asked, 14\/15.<\/p>\n

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Thirty-four teams have qualified for the World Cup.<\/strong> Read all about \u2018em<\/p>\n

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Wales v North Macedonia team news<\/h2>\n

Harry Wilson captains Wales in the absence of the suspended Ethan Ampadu. Josh Sheehan, Brennan Johnson and Liam Cullen all come into the side.<\/p>\n

Wales<\/strong> Darlow; Williams, Lawlor, Rodon, Dasilva, Sheehan, Wilson, D James, Cullen, Brooks, Johnson.<\/p>\n

Subs: King, A Davies, Mepham, Koumas, I Davies, Kpakio, Norrington-Davies, J Colwill, R Colwill, Harris, Thomas, Broadhead.<\/p>\n

North Macedonia<\/strong> Dimitrievski, Ilievski, Velkovski, Zajkov, Askovski, Kostadinov, Bardhi, Alimi, Stojchevski, Miovski, Elmas.<\/p>\n

Subs: Iliev, Aleksovski, Serafimov, Babunski, Trajkovski, Churlinov, Despotovski, Rastoder, Qamili, Ristovski, Ramadani, Atanasov.<\/p>\n

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Fancy some goosebumps? <\/strong>If you haven\u2019t seen the celebrations after Troy Parrott\u2019s third goal for Ireland on Sunday, I implore you to watch this irresistible slice of life-affirmation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a013.33 EST<\/p>\n

Denmark team news: Hojlund returns<\/h2>\n

Four changes from the Denmark from the XI that started their potential costly draw at home to Belarus. Joachim Andersen<\/strong>, Morten Hjulmand<\/strong>, Victor Froholdt<\/strong> and Rasmus Hojlund<\/strong> replace Jannik Vestergaard, Christian Norgaard, Christian Eriksen and Jonas Wind.<\/p>\n

Denmark (4-2-3-1ish) <\/strong>Schmeichel; Kristensen, Andersen, Christensen, Dorgu; Hjulmand, Hojbjerg; Isaksen, Froholdt, Damsgaard; Hojlund.<\/p>\n

Subs: Hermansen, Jorgensen, Vestergaard, Hogsberg, Nartey, O\u2019Riley, Eriksen, Norgaard, Billing, Wind, Biereth, Bruun Larsen.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a014.06 EST<\/p>\n

Scotland team news: Dykes and McKenna start<\/h2>\n

Steve Clarke has made two changes from the madcap defeat in Greece on Saturday. Scott McKenna<\/strong> replaces Grant Hanley and Lyndon Dykes<\/strong> is preferred up front to Che Adams. Interesting. Very interesting.<\/p>\n

Scotland (4-2-3-1ish) <\/strong>Gordon; Hickey, Souttar, McKenna, Robertson; Christie, Ferguson; Gannon-Doak, McTominay, McGinn; Dykes.<\/p>\n

Subs: Kelly, Bain, Hanley, Tierney, Irving, Adams, Hendry, Barron, Hirst, Shankland, Ralston, McLean.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a013.33 EST<\/p>\n

Ewan Murray<\/span><\/p>\n

Wounding events in modern history mean Scotland can not be a football country that expects.<\/strong> It is, however, one on tenterhooks as the prospect of long\u2011awaited World Cup qualification looms so large.<\/p>\n

On paper, the task is simple: beat Denmark at Hampden Park and the Scots will take a place in next summer\u2019s tournament. It is the significance of progress that matters far more than the fact the Danes are ranked 18 places higher in the world.<\/p>\n

Scotland have not played in the World Cup since 1998. You must go back to 1989 for the last time they qualified for anything in front of a Hampden audience. This ranks as a game for the ages. Potentially.<\/p>\n

The testimony of Andy Robertson is fascinating in this context. The Liverpool full-back and Scotland captain knows a thing or two about marquee achievement. He has 89 caps. What would leading his country to a World Cup mean? \u201cI don\u2019t like thinking about it and that\u2019s the honest answer,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m excited and looking forward to a one-game shootout for the World Cup. If it happens, I\u2019ll tell you how I feel about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The last time Scotland qualified for a World Cup<\/strong> was 11 October 1997, when Sunchyme by Dario G \u2013 it\u2019s okay, you can admit you like it now \u2013 was second in the charts, William Hague was all over the front pages and some of us had more hair then him.<\/p>\n

Scotland beat Latvia 2-0 that night and qualified automatically as the best runner-up across nine groups. Tonight\u2019s task is tougher, but then the reward is greater. If Scotland beat Denmark at Hampden, they will be among the chosen 48 for next summer\u2019s World Cup; if they draw or lose, they will go into the playoffs. It\u2019s mercifully simple, terrifyingly so if you\u2019re a Scotland fan.<\/p>\n

Scotland v Denmark is our main focus but we\u2019ll have goalflashes from Cardiff, where Wales need to beat North Macedonia to improve their seeding for the upcoming playoffs, and half-time\/full-time updates from the other matches. Here\u2019s the full list.<\/p>\n

Group B<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kosovo v Switzerland<\/p>\n

Sweden v Slovenia<\/p>\n

Switzerland will qualify automatically unless they lose by six goals to Kosovo, who along with Sweden are guaranteed a playoff place.<\/em><\/p>\n

Group C<\/strong><\/p>\n

Belarus v Greece<\/p>\n

Scotland v Denmark<\/p>\n

See above<\/em><\/p>\n

Group E<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spain v Turkey<\/p>\n

Bulgaria v Georgia<\/p>\n

Spain will qualify unless they lose by seven goals at home to Turkey, who are guaranteed a playoff place. Spain could join England in winning every game without conceding a goal.<\/em><\/p>\n

Group H<\/strong><\/p>\n

Romania v San Marino<\/p>\n

Austria v Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/p>\n

This group is a bit tighter. Bosnia and Herzegovina will steal the automatic qualification spot from Austria if they win in Vienna. Romania are guaranteed a playoff spot along with Austria or Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/em><\/p>\n

Group I<\/strong><\/p>\n

Belgium v Liechtenstein<\/p>\n

Wales v North Macedonia<\/p>\n

Belgium need to win at home to Liechtenstein to guarantee automatic qualification, though a draw should be enough and we feel a bit silly acknowleding this as a live prospect. Assuming Belgium win, Wales and North Macedonia \u2013 both guaranteed a playoff place \u2013 are fighting for a better seeding in that draw. They are level on points but Wales have an inferior goal difference so they need to win.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Preamble<\/h2>\n

Preamble? There are no preambles. Who needs preambles when Scotland are one win away from reaching their first World Cup since 1998.<\/p>\n

Kick off <\/strong>7.45pm.<\/p>\n

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Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature 16 min Hojlund blasts a dangerous ball across the face of goal, the kind he wants to be on the end of, then has a header blocked by a defender. Good spell this for Denmark. Share 14 min Hojbjerg shoots over<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34332,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[130,3251,132,11546,8920,4359,550],"class_list":{"0":"post-34331","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-cup","9":"tag-denmark","10":"tag-live","11":"tag-qualifiers","12":"tag-qualifying","13":"tag-scotland","14":"tag-world"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34331"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34331\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/34332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}