Scotland are ready to live the American dream. After punching their ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in style, Steve Clarke’s men are itching to take part in their first global finals since France 1998.
To help showcase Scotland’s presence at the North American showpiece and inspire the Tartan Army fanbase in the New York area, Clarke recently visited Manhattan to take part in Tartan Week, including the Tartan Day Parade down Sixth Avenue.
The experience gave the 63-year-old coach a valuable taste of the types of atmospheres that Scotland will encounter when they take on Brazil, Haiti and Morocco in Group C in their attempt to reach the knockout stage for the first time in the country’s history.
“We expect to have a large following, especially from the American fans. We’re here at Tartan Week and you can see the excitement. It’s been absolutely amazing, the reception out here,” Clarke told FIFA.
“Everyone in Scotland is excited for the World Cup but to come out here and to get the same feel from the Scottish contingent, the expats who are living here in New York has been a really good experience for us. I’m sure the American Tartan Army will turn up in great numbers in the summer and make it an occasion that everyone will remember.”
As well as the passionate crowds, Clarke believes that Scotland’s team spirit can help spur on the team in their long-awaited return to the global showpiece in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
“We’re a very organized group of players. Every time they go on the pitch, they are very proud to represent their country and I think that shows in their performances,” Clarke added. “They never want to let their country down and they never want to let each other down. We have a fantastic team spirit and that’s something that money can’t buy.”
Scotland’s showpiece fixture in the group stage will come against Brazil ― whom they are facing for a record fifth time at this stage at the World Cup ― but for now Clarke is simply focusing on their opener against Haiti in Boston Stadium on 13 June.
“Everyone will point to the Brazil game but the most important game is the first game against Haiti. We have to focus on the first game and then the next game,” he noted. “We have tough matches, three difficult opponents. Hopefully we can do something which no Scottish team has done before and come out of the group stages and into the knockout rounds.”
Clarke is particularly proud to take part in his first World Cup, something he never experienced as a player. “I had a good career as a player but didn’t quite manage to make it and you think your chance has gone. I’m almost 63 and have a chance to lead my country to the World Cup and it’s just fantastic,” he said.
“It means a lot [to Scotland as a whole to qualify]. Obviously we are a footballing country, we pride ourselves on qualifying for major tournaments and we’d gone so long without qualifying that we’d start to feel uncomfortable. I’ve got a great group of players, obviously a great qualifying campaign and to top the section and come here automatically has just been fantastic. Everyone in Scotland is so excited for the occasion.”
