Scotland endured a nervy encounter against Belarus, ultimately securing a 2-1 victory in their World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park on October 12, 2025. The win, far from a stellar performance, keeps Scotland's hopes of reaching their first World Cup since 1998 firmly on track.
Che Adams opened the scoring for Scotland in the 15th minute with a composed finish. Scotland maintained their lead into the second half, but faced a resilient Belarus side who created numerous chances. A disallowed goal for each side added to the tension, with Adams seeing a second strike ruled out for handball. Belarus also had a goal disallowed.
As the game approached its conclusion, Scott McTominay appeared to have sealed the victory for Scotland, scoring in the 85th minute to make it 2-0. However, Belarus substitute Hleb Kuchko struck in injury time, turning Andy Robertson and slotting the ball past Angus Gunn to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The late goal sparked a tense finale, with Belarus pushing for an equaliser. Despite some nervy moments, Scotland held on to secure the three points. The narrow victory moves Scotland to the top of Group C in World Cup qualifying. A win for Denmark against Greece would knock Greece out of contention and guarantee Scotland a place in the top two.
While the result was positive, the performance left something to be desired. Belarus, ranked 100th in the world, proved to be a tough opponent, registering 21 attempts on goal. Scotland's performance was lackluster, and the team was fortunate to come away with the win.
Scotland's upcoming qualifiers against Greece and Denmark next month will be crucial in determining their World Cup fate. With the Tartan Army dreaming of a place at the 2026 World Cup, Steve Clarke's side will need to improve their performances if they are to achieve their goal.
The match concluded with some boos from the home crowd, reflecting the underwhelming nature of the performance despite the victory. Scotland will need to show more composure and control in their remaining matches if they are to secure their place at the World Cup.
