PIRAEUS, GREECE - In a dramatic turn of events in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Scotland suffered a 3-2 defeat against Greece, while Belarus stunned Denmark with a 2-2 draw, shaking up the group standings and setting the stage for a thrilling finale.
Scotland's hopes for automatic qualification took a hit at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis in Piraeus, as they fell to a Greek side eager to prove themselves despite having already been eliminated from contention. The hosts started strong, with Tasos Bakasetas firing in the opening goal in the 7th minute after Craig Gordon, making his return in place of the injured Angus Gunn, initially denied Vangelis Pavlidis. Greece continued to press, and Gordon was called into action multiple times to keep Scotland in the game. Scotland struggled to gain a foothold in the first half, though Ryan Christie threatened a couple of times.
The second half saw Greece extend their lead, with Konstantinos Karetsas scoring in the 57th minute and Christos Tzolis adding another in the 63rd. Just when it seemed like Scotland was down and out, Ben Gannon-Doak pulled one back in the 65th minute, followed by Ryan Christie in the 70th, igniting a glimmer of hope for the Tartan Army. Scotland pushed hard for an equalizer, and Greece's Bakasetas received a second yellow card in the 84th minute, but the visitors couldn't capitalize.
Despite the loss, Scotland's World Cup dreams remain alive thanks to an unexpected twist in Copenhagen. Group leaders Denmark were held to a 2-2 draw by Belarus, a result that sent shockwaves through the group. Mikkel Damsgaard had given Denmark an early lead in the 11th minute with a precise strike from outside the box. However, Belarus fought back, with Valery Gromyko equalizing in the second half and Nikita Demchenko putting them ahead. Gustav Isaksen leveled the score late in the game, but Denmark couldn't find a winner, handing Belarus their first point in Group C.
The draw in Copenhagen means that Scotland's fate is now in their own hands. A win against Denmark at Hampden Park on Tuesday would secure their place at the 2026 World Cup.
"A crazy game, crazy night," said Scotland head coach Steve Clarke. "We conceded bad goals and scored good goals...I am pleased that the players still have the opportunity to go directly to the World Cup but disappointed we lost the game. It is not a game we should have lost".
The stage is now set for a dramatic showdown between Scotland and Denmark, with a spot in the 2026 World Cup on the line.
