Scotland have reached the World Cup for the first time since 1998 --- and while they started with a win, Steve Clarke's side are now scrambling to reach the knockouts.
Beating Haiti 1-0 in their first World Cup game for 28 years was the perfect start to a historic appearance, but Scotland were then beaten by Morocco by the same scoreline in a match they failed to have a shot on target in and then lost 3-0 to Brazil.
There are various permutations that could see them advance in third -- but who could they face in the knockout stages?
- Scotland at the 2026 World Cup: Schedule, results, how to watch
- England's route to the 2026 World Cup final
- Free World Cup 2026 predictor: Simulate your road to the final
Scotland's Group C games
Sunday, June 14: Scotland 1-0 Haiti
Friday, June 19: Scotland 0-1 Morocco
Wednesday, June 24: Scotland 0-3 Brazil
Scotland were drawn in a group that, due to France, Norway and Senegal being put in Group I together, cannot be called the toughest group, but it is certainly going to be a challenge.
Clarke's men lost to Brazil in their final game, following a defeat to controversially-crowned AFCON champions Morocco, who reached the semifinals in 2022. Bizarrely, the last time Scotland were at the World Cup in France, 28 years ago, they were also drawn in a group alongside Brazil and Morocco, losing both matches.
They started with an important three points against Haiti which gave them hope of progression into the knockout stages for the first time, but after being beaten by Brazil, face a nervous wait to see if they can qualify as one of the eight best-ranked third-placed teams.
Scotland could still reach the round of 32 if they finish on three points but need to rely on other results going their way.
What happens if Scotland finish third in the group?
Round of 32
Scotland vs. France/Germany/Mexico
After being drawn alongside two of the top 10 sides in world football and finishing third, Scotland's only chance of advancing to the knockout stages is as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
With the World Cup expanding from the traditional 32 teams to 48, there will now be a round-of-32 as the first knockout round.
And this is where it gets extremely complicated when plotting permutations.
So complicated in fact, that there are 495 possible combinations in which a group table topper can face a third-place side.
Scotland themselves are in Group C and that means they could face the group winner from Group A, E and I, if of course, they finish among the top eight third place teams.
That would likely see them face either Mexico, Germany or France.
Those games would either take place on Monday, June 29 or Tuesday, June 30 in Boston, New Jersey or Mexico City.
What would happen next if Scotland advance beyond that?
If Scotland can spring the surprise of all surprises and navigate their way past one of the tournament big boys, they will come up against ... one of the other tournament big boys.
The prize for beating either France or Germany would likely be a clash against ... either France or Germany or another third-place team if they too can cause a shock.
If drawn against Mexico and successful, then it could be a clash against the auld enemy, with Scotland possibly facing England in the round-of-16.
If they can keep up their run of shocks and advance into the quarterfinal, then it will likely be the Netherlands or a second meeting with Brazil, before either taking on Spain, Portugal or Argentina in the semifinal and final to pull off one of sports' most stunning tournament victories.