Scotland’s 28-year wait to qualify for the World Cup was finally ended last month when their memorable 4-2 win over Denmark saw them top their group and gain a direct passage to next summer’s tournament.
Set to take place across USA, Mexico, and Canada, Steve Clarke’s side won’t have to wait anywhere near as long to discover who they will face at the competition, with the draw set to take place at the Kennedy Center in the American capital of Washington DC on Friday, December 5.
With Scotland placed in pot 3 of the draw, they know they will face a nation from pot 1, pot 2, and pot 4 - but which nations would be the most difficult to face?
Here, The Scotsman rank every pot 1 team in the World Cup 2026 draw ranked on difficulty, from easiest to most difficult. Do you agree with our rankings?
5. Portugal (Difficultly rating: 7)
They may have won the Nations League earlier this year, but Scotland have were more than a match for them in the two games they played during the competition. Littered with star quality they may be, they can be got at, as shown by Republic Of Ireland 2-0 win over them last month. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
6. Netherlands (Difficultly rating: 7)
The Dutch are showing a steady improvement, and are beginning to show signs of being one of Europe's best side, like they were during the 1980s and 1990s. They are capable of a slip-up and are not the most difficult pot 1 team to face, but certainly one Scotland will look to avoid if possible. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
7. Brazil (Difficultly rating: 8)
Winners of the tournament five times, the World Cup is when Brazil comes alive as a nation. Scotland's opening day opponents last time they qualified in 1998, they'd enter the game as big outsiders to a team ranked fifth in the FIFA rankings. | AFP via Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
8. Germany (Difficultly rating: 8)
The Tartan Army don't need reminding of Scotland's opening day thrashing at Euro 2024, where they lost 5-1 to Germany. That said, if it happened again, Scotland can take heart from the fact Slovakia - ranked nine places below Steve Clarke's side in the FIFA rankings - beat them 2-0 in qualifying. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images