Preview: Scotland vs Brazil – Latest News, Lineups, Absences | 2026 World Cup (06/24/2026)

Preview, Team News, Head-to-Head and Probable Line-ups for Scotland vs Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Scotland are set to face Brazil in Miami on Wednesday night aiming to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup. Steve Clarke’s side began Group C with a 1-0 win over Haiti before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Morocco.

That leaves Scotland on three points and still in contention to reach the knockout stages for the first time, although the task could hardly be tougher against the five-time world champions.

Brazil top the group on four points after drawing 1-1 with Morocco and then beating Haiti 3-0. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have not been flawless, but they remain favourites to win the group and will expect to finish the group stage strongly.

Latest news: absences, form, team news

Scotland competed well against Morocco but left without a point, which means Wednesday’s game carries huge importance. A win would send them through, while a draw should still be enough depending on results elsewhere and the ranking of third-placed teams.

Brazil arrive with confidence after their victory over Haiti and could be boosted by Neymar’s return. The forward missed Brazil’s first two matches with a calf issue but is expected to be available, while Raphinha is reportedly set to miss out through injury.

Scotland

Scotland have a few fitness issues to monitor. Aaron Hickey, Scott McKenna and Lewis Ferguson missed group training on Sunday, with all three reportedly training individually. Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney, who suffered cramp against Morocco, returned to the collective session.

Brazil

Brazil’s biggest talking point is Neymar. If he is ready to start, Ancelotti could bring him into the attack to add creativity between the lines. Raphinha’s absence would remove one direct wide option, but Brazil still have Vinícius Júnior, Rayan and several attacking midfielders capable of hurting Scotland. Defensively, Brazil should stay close to the team that beat Haiti, with Alisson Becker in goal and Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães expected to anchor the back line.

Teams H2H: Head-to-head stats

Scotland have a long and difficult history against Brazil, particularly at the World Cup. The two nations have met four times at the tournament, all in the group stage, and Scotland have never beaten the Seleção. Their 1998 meeting came in the opening game of the World Cup in France, when John Collins equalised from the penalty spot before a Tom Boyd own goal gave Brazil victory.

Previous World Cup meetings:

• 18/06/1974: Scotland 0-0 Brazil
• 18/06/1982: Brazil 4-1 Scotland
• 20/06/1990: Brazil 1-0 Scotland
• 10/06/1998: Brazil 2-1 Scotland

Predicted line-ups

Scotland may stay compact and cautious, especially given the injury concerns in the squad. Neymar could feature off the bench, while Raphinha’s reported injury opens the door for a reshuffled attack.

Position	–Scotland	–Brazil
Goalkeeper	Angus Gunn	Alisson Becker
Defenders	Nathan Patterson Grant Hanley Jack Hendry Andy Robertson	Danilo Marquinhos Gabriel Magalhães Douglas Santos
Midfielders	Ben Gannon-Doak Scott McTominay Lewis Ferguson Ryan Christie John McGinn	Casemiro Bruno Guimarães Lucas Paquetá
Forwards	Che Adams	Rayan Matheus Cunha Vinícius Júnior

Tactical analysis: Can Scotland keep Brazil quiet?

Scotland’s first priority will be defensive control. Brazil are likely to dominate possession, so Clarke’s side must stay compact, protect central spaces and avoid allowing Lucas Paquetá to receive freely between the lines.

The wide areas will be decisive. Vinícius Júnior against Scotland’s right side could be one of the game’s key battles, while Matheus Cunha’s movement upfront may create problems if Scotland’s defence leaves him space to roam.

Scotland’s best route may come from set-pieces and second balls. McTominay, Hendry and Souttar offer size and physicality, and Brazil will need to defend dead-ball situations carefully.

Key players to watch

Scott McTominay (Scotland)

McTominay remains Scotland’s most likely source of a decisive moment. His strength, late runs into the box and ability to attack set-pieces make him a genuine threat even in matches where Scotland do not have much possession. Against Brazil, he will also have a major defensive role, helping protect midfield and stopping Brazil from playing too easily through central areas.

Scotland are unlikely to create a high volume of chances, but McTominay’s scoring record for his country makes him the obvious value angle. Backing him anytime could be tempting, especially if Scotland target set-pieces.

Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)

Having scored in each of his team’s first two games of the tournament, Vinícius is Brazil’s most explosive attacker and the player most capable of breaking open a tight game. His pace, one-on-one ability and direct running will test Scotland’s defensive discipline throughout. Vinícius to score may be popular, but a goal or assist market could be the smarter play. Brazil’s attacks are likely to flow through him, and even if he does not finish the move, he should be heavily involved in chance creation.

Market insights and probability predictions

Brazil are strong favourites, with current 2026 World Cup betting markets and odds giving them roughly a 70% chance of victory. Scotland are major underdogs, while the draw is seen as a realistic but difficult route to a result. The goals market leans towards Brazil scoring more than once, but Scotland’s defensive structure could keep the game tighter than expected.

Scotland will fight, stay organised and look to make the game uncomfortable, but Brazil’s attacking quality should eventually tell. Raphinha’s absence is a blow for Ancelotti, but the Seleção have what it takes to secure a victory that could clinch them top spot in the group.

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