Scotland lead World Cup qualifying group after Israel thrashing 6-0 in 2026

Scotland secured a crucial 6-0 victory over Israel in their World Cup qualifier, staying top of Group B4 ahead of Belgium.

Scotland dominate in empty stadium A tiny crowd of just friends and family watched as Scotland overwhelmed Israel 6-0 in Hungary, playing their home qualifier due to safety concerns. The eerie silence in the 8,000-seat Bozsik Arena deepened when Erin Cuthbert crumpled to the turf clutching her right leg. Her teammates froze as her cries of pain echoed through the stands, leaving everyone stunned. The match was already a comfortable win, but the atmosphere turned heavy with concern for the Chelsea midfielder. ## Cuthbert stretchered off in visible pain Cuthbert went down dramatically under a mild challenge, appearing to be struck by lightning while stretching Scotland’s lead. Her reaction suggested the impact was far worse than it looked, and the stretcher that followed confirmed her obvious agony as she was taken to hospital. Head coach Melissa Andreatta refused to guess the extent of the damage while awaiting updates. Forward Kirsty Hanson, who scored Scotland’s sixth goal, simply said: 'She is being well looked after, so let's hope there is good news.' Yet the subdued celebrations revealed their fears about Cuthbert’s condition. ## Belgium’s win overshadowed by Scotland’s dominance While Scotland celebrated their big win, Belgium also recorded a 6-0 victory over Luxembourg later that night. However, this result carried far less weight since Scotland had already crushed Luxembourg 7-0 at Hampden. Scotland entered the final matchday with a four-goal advantage over Belgium in Group B4. Belgium would need a strong result against Luxembourg to keep pace, but their task was made easier by the group’s format. ## Scotland to face Israel again in Hungary UEFA permitted Israel to host all their remaining qualifiers in Hungary for security reasons, meaning Scotland’s 'away' game would once again take place in the Bozsik Arena. Melissa Andreatta emphasized the need to refine their attacking plays ahead of the next matchday. 'We'll keep fine-tuning our final-third actions between now and Tuesday to improve that goal difference,' she stated. The coach praised the team’s fast start and dominance, highlighting their ability to create chances through various phases of play. ## Weir’s hat-trick carries the team forward Caroline Weir stepped up with a crucial performance, scoring a hat-trick against Israel while Cuthbert watched from the sidelines. The midfielder, poised to leave Real Madrid, nearly added more goals as Scotland controlled the game effortlessly. Andreatta called her a 'classy person and a classy player' who 'stands up in situations that really matter,' praising her leadership at a pivotal moment. Weir’s influence on the team was undeniable, and her form provided a lift amid the uncertainty surrounding Cuthbert. ## Hanson and team-mates rally behind injured star Kirsty Hanson, who netted the final goal against Israel, spoke highly of Weir’s impact on the squad. 'She leads from the front although she's in midfield and she's just a classy person and a classy player,' Hanson said. 'That's what we needed tonight.' The forward also stressed the team’s focus on the next game, noting that while scoring goals is satisfying, their sights remained set on Tuesday’s fixture. 'We are very happy to score loads of goals, but we have another game and we just move on to the next one,' she added. ## Play-off implications hinge on goal difference With only League A group winners qualifying directly, three teams from Scotland’s group would advance to the play-offs. The group winners would be seeded alongside fourth-placed League A teams to face runners-up and third-placed teams from League B. Scotland’s path to qualification remained clear, but their goal difference would be critical. Even without Cuthbert, the team aimed to maximize their scoring opportunities to secure a favorable seeding before the final matchday.