World Cup draw: The best and worst scenarios for Scotland

Today is the day Scotland discovers their potential opponents at this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

It has been 25 long years since the national men's team were in the draw for football’s biggest event. Back in 1998 Craig Brown’s men were picked alongside holders Brazil, Morocco and Norway.

After a spirited opening defeat to Brazil, Scotland drew with the Norwegians before being dismantled 3-0 by Morocco. At that moment few could have predicted that would be the country’s last involvement in the tournament for so long.

This afternoon’s draw in Doha which begins at 5pm BST is somewhat different. Scotland are one of three teams sharing the same ball. They have yet to play Ukraine in their World Cup play-off due to Russia’s invasion of their neighbours with the winners facing Wales. Still, there will be plenty of excitement around the country as to who could be the potential opponents.

A picture taken on March 31, 2022 shows a detail of the World Cup Trophy during the FIFA Congress in the Qatari capital Doha. - The countdown towards the most controversial World Cup in history begins tomorrow as the draw for Qatar 2022 takes place in Doha 2022, less than eight months befor the start of the tournament itself. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Scotland will be in pot 4 and could be drawn alongside another European team but will be guaranteed to face two sides from elsewhere in the world.

Each group will have a European team but no group will be able to have more than two teams from UEFA. Regarding the rest of the world no two teams from the same region can be drawn alongside each other. So, for example, Scotland couldn’t be in the same group as Brazil and Uruguay.

Interestingly, due to the intricacies of the draw and how teams from the same region are separated, Scotland’s most likely opponent is hosts Qatar who are in pot 1. Such an outcome would be welcomed by Steve Clarke and the Tartan Army.

But what, on paper, is the most favourable draw and what draw will Scotland be looking to avoid.

Using the FIFA rankings, which was used to determine the order of the pots, as a guide, the most difficult group would be:

Brazil

Mexico

Senegal

Scotland

Scotland fans would likely take that group over one such as:

Brazil

Germany

Japan

Scotland

As for the the best possible scenario according to the world rankings?

Qatar

Croatia

Tunisia

Scotland

Scotland may be looking to avoid Croatia, potentially playing Switzerland instead.

No matter what though, Scotland fans will take just being at the tournament in November and dealing with whatever opponents present themselves from there.

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