Scotland make their first appearance at a men's World Cup finals in 28 years in 2026.
Scotland last competed at a men's World Cup in 1998, a tournament where the Scottish Parliament did not yet exist, the internet was barely in use outside work, and a pint of lager cost around £1.90. Concerns about Y2K were just beginning to surface. The charts were dominated by B*Witched's 'C'est La Vie,' while 'The Wedding Singer' topped the box office. The BBC's live text updates for the opening match against Brazil were broadcast via Ceefax.
The waiting period since 1998 has been agonizingly long, with eight members of Steve Clarke’s current squad not even born yet. A whole generation has grown up without seeing their national team reach the World Cup finals. While Scots cling to memories of that 1998 campaign, especially the heartbreak of a 10p Freddo chocolate bar after Morocco’s victory in Saint-Etienne, the world has moved on rapidly.
Back in 1998, Tony Blair was Prime Minister, Bill Clinton was in the White House, and the internet was a tool primarily for work, not leisure. Its potential and risks were still largely unknown. Team selections weren’t leaked or debated online, and watching matches on mobile phones, now commonplace, was practically unimaginable. Only a quarter of people owned mobile phones at the time.
The Euro currency wasn’t introduced until 1999, and Scotland’s first First Minister, Donald Dewar, opened the new Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh that same year with the famous words, 'today there is a new voice in the land.' Since then, six more First Ministers have served, and a 2014 independence referendum took place. Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014, two years after London had welcomed the Olympics, with Hampden Park staging several football matches during both events.
In golf, a 22-year-old Tiger Woods had just one major title, the Masters, but went on to win 14 more. Tennis legend Roger Federer had not yet made his professional debut, let alone claim his 103 singles titles and 20 Grand Slam victories. Wimbledon’s men’s champion, Pete Sampras, earned £43,500 more than the women’s winner, Jana Novotna. Equal prize money finally arrived in 2007, with last year’s champions, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, each receiving £3 million.
The Scotland squad of 2026 will feel they have earned every moment of their historic achievement. For players like Aaron Hickey, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Nathan Patterson, Anthony Ralston, Findlay Curtis, and Tyler Fletcher, this is their first taste of a World Cup. They grew up watching idols like James McFadden, Darren Fletcher, Barry Ferguson, Scott Brown, Kenny Miller, and others fall short of reaching the finals.
It took Scotland more than 10,000 days to return to the World Cup finals. Unlike past tournaments, there will be no CDs or DVDs capturing the memories, and the cost of milk for tea and coffee has risen from 34p. Yet, despite the changes, some things remain constant—a nation’s hope, pride, and the dream of footballing glory.