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Scotland haven’t played a World Cup match that actually mattered in nearly three decades. Now they’re about to play one against a team that reached the semi-finals of the last tournament.
The Scotland head coach has thrown his full support behind midfielder Scott McTominay ahead of the national team’s second Group C fixture against Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Clarke has identified McTominay as the player most likely to unlock what promises to be Scotland’s sternest test of the tournament so far.
From Haiti to Morocco: a very different challenge
Scotland opened their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Haiti on June 14-15, 2026, with John McGinn grabbing the decisive goal. Morocco stormed to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African nation to reach that stage of the competition. They beat Belgium, Spain, and Portugal along the way.
Scotland’s Group C is rounded out by Brazil, which means every match after the opener carries enormous weight. Sitting on three points from the Haiti result, Scotland know that a positive result against Morocco could dramatically reshape their knockout stage prospects.
Clarke has acknowledged that his side needs to be significantly better in possession against Morocco. Against a team with Morocco’s technical quality and pressing intensity, Scotland will need to actually hold the ball and create chances through more than just set pieces and long balls.
Why McTominay is Clarke’s chosen weapon
McTominay’s qualification campaign was, by his own high standards, exceptional. He scored multiple spectacular goals during the road to the World Cup, including an overhead kick that had no business going in.
Clarke’s defense of McTominay isn’t just managerial loyalty. It’s a tactical statement. Against Morocco, Scotland will likely see less of the ball and need to make their moments count. McTominay’s ability to arrive late in the box, strike from distance, and impose himself physically in midfield transitions makes him the ideal player for a counter-attacking approach.
A 28-year wait adds context to everything
Scotland’s last World Cup appearance came in 1998, in France. An entire generation of Scottish football fans has grown up without seeing their national team at the biggest tournament in the sport.
That 28-year absence makes every decision Clarke takes feel heavier. Backing McTominay isn’t just about one match. It’s about signaling to the squad and the country that Clarke has a clear plan for how Scotland can compete at this level.
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