Scotland earned a crucial 2-0 win against Belarus in their World Cup 2026 qualifying match, marking a solid start to their campaign. The victory, which came in front of a relatively subdued Hampden Park crowd, was characterized by gritty determination rather than free-flowing football. With this result, Scotland sits in a strong position as they prepare for their upcoming matches in Group C.
The game began at a hectic pace, but neither team was able to create clear-cut chances in the opening 30 minutes. Scotland’s left side, with Ben Gannon-Doak and Andy Robertson, posed the main threat, but their efforts lacked precision. It was not until the 43rd minute that the deadlock was broken. A fantastic cross from John McGinn found Scott McTominay, whose header was perfectly laid off for Ché Adams to finish from close range. The 29-year-old striker’s goal, his 10th for Scotland, gave the hosts a vital 1-0 lead just before halftime.
The second half saw Scotland come out with more intent, although they struggled with their finishing. In the 51st minute, McTominay had a golden opportunity to extend Scotland’s lead but sent a free header straight at Belarus goalkeeper Fedor Lapoukhov. Moments later, Scotland’s lead was doubled, but in a bizarre fashion. A well-worked move involving Robertson, Gilmour, and Adams ended with Zakhar Volkov scoring an own goal, heading past his goalkeeper into the net. This own goal, a result of panic in the Belarus defense, effectively sealed the victory for Scotland.
Despite a few nervy moments, including a dangerous tackle on Lewis Ferguson that only resulted in a yellow card for Belarus’ Vladislav Kalinin, Scotland controlled the remainder of the match. Belarus, lacking the attacking quality to test Scotland, was unable to make a serious comeback. Adams had a chance to add a second, but his delayed shot was cleared off the line by Pavel Zabelin.
Steve Clarke’s team will now shift their focus to the crucial October match against Greece, knowing that another win will bring them even closer to securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup. With back-to-back clean sheets, Scotland looks poised to continue their solid form in the qualifying campaign.
