Scotland Coach Steve Clarke: "We Want to Be the First Scotland Team to Advance Past World Cup Group Stage"

Scotland national team coach Steve Clarke has affirmed that his team's ambition for the 2026 World Cup is to advance beyond the group stage and achieve an unprecedented historical feat for Scottish football.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday before departing for America, Clarke stated that his most important message to the fans is to enjoy the tournament. He added: "The most important message I want to convey is for you to enjoy the tournament. This is our third major tournament, and I hope we show some of the experience we've gained and make this summer a special occasion."

The Scotland coach also addressed the absence of player Billy Gilmour due to injury, expressing his deep regret. He said: "Everyone feels very sad for Billy. It's painful when that happens to any player, but for it to happen just before the tournament starts and in the final preparatory match makes it even more difficult."

Despite the challenging circumstances, Clarke emphasized that the team's objective remains unchanged. He stated: "We want to be the first Scotland team to get out of the group stage and reach the knockout rounds. That is our primary goal and our ambition for this tournament."

He concluded his remarks by highlighting the great enthusiasm within the squad, saying: "There is a strong desire within the team to achieve a historic accomplishment, and I hope this motivation is enough to help us go as far as possible in the World Cup."

Scotland is in Group C of the World Cup, alongside Morocco, Brazil, and Haiti.