Scotland's campaign in the 2026 World Cup has been marked by concerns over game plans and their execution, particularly in attack. Manager Steve Clarke has experimented with various formations, a departure from the consistent back-five system that drew criticism during Euro 2024.
This summer, Clarke utilized three different set-ups across three matches. A 4-4-2 formation, which proved effective in World Cup warm-up games yielding eight goals against Curacao and Bolivia, was employed in the narrow 1-0 victory over Haiti. Subsequent matches against Morocco and Brazil saw variations of a 4-2-3-1 system. Against Morocco, left-back Kieran Tierney was positioned in midfield, while a more attack-minded setup featuring Ben Gannon-Doak on the wing was deployed against Brazil.
On paper, the more forward-looking team selections against Haiti and Brazil suggested a renewed attacking intent. However, the on-field performance raised repeated concerns. Scotland was largely defending for large portions of their 1-0 win against Haiti. This result, coupled with an overall lack of offensive output, has significantly jeopardized their chances of progressing in the tournament, with an early exit now appearing likely.
One notable moment came in the match against Brazil, where Scott McTominay's 49th-minute header ended a 200-minute drought without a shot on target for Scotland in the tournament. Despite this effort, the team's overall attacking numbers highlight persistent issues. "[Scotland are] on the brink of exiting the 2026 World Cup with just one goal from three group matches," according to BBC Scotland's analysis. The statistics suggest that despite tactical adjustments, Scotland's attacking effectiveness has not improved sufficiently to meet the demands of the World Cup competition.