Scotland

They're a passionate, hard-fighting national team that punches above its weight at times but has a long history of heartbreak and near-misses on the big stage. Heading into the 2026 World Cup, Scotland will be riding the momentum of qualifying for recent major tournaments after decades in the wilderness, trying to prove they belong among Europe's better sides. Keep an eye on whether their team spirit and tactical grit can carry them past the group stage, which has historically been about as far as their luck tends to go.