Scotland Target Crucial Win in Athens to Boost World Cup 2026 Hopes

FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)  -  Greece VS Scotland
Match Time:16-11-2025 03:45 Sunday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips

Scotland remain in contention for automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup as they visit Greece in their penultimate Group C match. The Tartan Army aim to replicate their 3-1 home win from last month. A strong performance in Athens could secure their spot in the next round.

Team Analysis:
Scotland secured a 2-1 win over Belarus in a lackluster performance, leaving coach Steve Clarke disappointed despite it being his 72nd match in charge. Back-to-back home wins against Belarus and Greece have lifted Scotland to 10 points, level with Denmark, and guaranteed a playoff spot while keeping automatic qualification hopes alive. Greece, already out of contention for the World Cup, are playing for pride after a string of recent defeats and sit seven points behind the top two in Group C.

Player Situation:
Greece have called up Australian-born Nectarios Triantis and Brighton’s 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas, both in line for potential international debuts. Key players like Vangelis Pavlidis, Kostas Tsimikas, Tasos Bakasetas, and Odysseas Vlachodimos are expected to feature, while injuries rule out Konstantinos Mavropanos and Fotis Ioannidis. Scotland will be without Lennon Miller, Ross McCrorie, and Billy Gilmour, with Craig Gordon likely to start in goal and McTominay, Ferguson, and John McGinn anchoring midfield.

Result Prediction:
Scotland’s chances of automatic World Cup qualification hinge on Saturday’s trip to Greece, with Denmark expected to beat Belarus. Greece often score first, netting the opener in five of their last seven games. Despite this, Scotland are expected to deliver a stronger performance and come out on top.

Predicted Result: Greece 1-3 Scotland.