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With Scotland at their first men's World Cup since 1998, BBC Sport is making it easier than ever to keep up with the national team's progress.We've heard your feedback and have been working behind the scenes to make sure that you can choose to have Scotland news front and centre during the national team's campaign.On the website, if you are signed in with a Scottish postcode then we'll be including additional Scottish stories on the front page while the team are at the World Cup.And if you're using the app, with just a few taps on your phone you can have Scottish football news at the very top of the page so you won't miss a thing.Visit this page and when prompted, click sign inSign in using your BBC username and passwordIf you don't have one, you can register at the bottom of the page in the section "Don't have a BBC account? Register now."If you're registered under a Scottish postcode in Settings you'll receive extra Scottish content when available on the BBC Sport front page without having to do a thing.You can also follow topics such as Scotland Sport, Scotland Men's Football Team and Scottish Football from the My Sport page.When you first go into the BBC Sport app, external, you'll be prompted to sign in or create an account.When signed in, go to the My Sport tab at the bottom of the screen.If you haven't already used My Sport, you'll be met with a screen telling you to "choose which topics to follow". Options include Scotland Sport, Scotland Men's Football Team and Scottish Football.If you have already set up My Sport, go to the My Sport tab and press Edit, and follow the same process.Whichever you select, these will appear at the top of the Home tab when you open the app, and the latest stories from each will appear in the My Sport tab.You can reorder the topics by pressing edit at any time.Everything you need to know about the World Cup

World Cup News

Iran due to play group matches in Los Angeles and SeattleFederation says decision ‘raises questions about interference of non-sporting considerations’Iran’s football federation said on Tuesday its ticket allocation had been pulled just days before the World Cup starts, leaving supporters who had already made travel plans unable to attend their team’s matches.The World Cup begins on Thursday, with Iran playing their first two Group G games in Los Angeles, against New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June, and then facing Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. In a statement, the Iranian federation said it had already begun the ticket sales process for the matches but could no longer provide them to fans.“This is despite the fact that many Iranian football fans, relying on the officially announced process, had already made the necessary plans to attend the matches,” the FFIRI added in a statement. “Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.“This development raises serious questions about the interference of non-sporting and political considerations in the organization of the world’s biggest football event.“Each participating federation at the World Cup receives 8% of the tickets for each of their matches to be allocated to fans according to their own criteria. The FFIRI did not say who had made the decision to withhold the tickets but urged Fifa, football’s governing body, to adhere to “the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations” and called on it to prevent off-field issues from casting a shadow over the tournament. Fifa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been clouded by uncertainty since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in late February, triggering a regional conflict. Iranians have been subject to a travel ban by the US government for five months.The FFIRI negotiated to move the team’s base camp from Arizona to Mexico due to uncertainty over whether they would be granted US visas and a growing feeling in Iran that the squad’s presence in the US should be kept to a minimum. After weeks of uncertainty, the US awarded visas to all the players last week – 10 days before their first match – but several members of staff did not receive them. A US official told Reuters on Friday that the administration had issued “the visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup”.

World Cup News

The US men have scored 25 goals (we’ll spare you the own-goals) in the World Cup since 1990. Ranking them requires some nuanceWhat makes a good goal? This was the question each of us pondered as we embarked upon the process of ranking every goal we’ve seen the US score at the men’s World Cup – a worthwhile bit of nostalgia before the national team kicks off their 2026 World Cup campaign hoping to add more to this list.First, we had to narrow the field. The team have scored 40 goals at the men’s World Cup, but scant video evidence exists of 12 of those – appropriate, given they were scored in 1930, 1934, and 1950. Piecing together reports and descriptions can give you an idea, but they were always going to be judged differently than those we’ve seen, felt and heard. And so, with apologies to Aldo “Buff” Donelli and Joe Gaetjens, our pool is limited to US World Cup apearances from 1990 til the present.Own goals, too, have been omitted out of respect. There have been three of those, leaving a well-rounded group of 24 goals to consider.Each of us rated them on a five-star scale under three categories: importance (the goal’s impact), quality (the technical ability involved in the goal and the play that led to it), and the vibes (everything else: the celebration, the fan reaction, and anything other than the play itself). The maximum a goal could be worth, on our ramshackled rubric, is a 45.No goal – no, not even that one – maxed out the scale. In the event of a tie, priority was given to the goal with the highest vibes. It’s a ranking of World Cup goals, not trigonometry.Importance: 6/15; Quality: 6/15; Vibes: 4/15.McBride’s late finish against was well-taken, the sort of header he made his name with. It was also the US’s only goal in their worst-ever World Cup, scored during a match that had all sorts of other implications. The vibes, simply, could not be worse. PMImportance: 5/15; Quality: 7/15; Vibes: 5/15.Among the most underrated players in the early history of the US, Murray – the eighth-highest goalscorer in the history of the program – deserved this taste of World Cup glory. He’d later assist on the US’s only other goal at the 1990 World Cup, but neither act did much to change the team’s ultimate fate: three straight losses and a group stage elimination. PMImportance: 10/15; Quality: 6/15; Vibes: 8/15.Did he mean it? It mattered not in terms of the final result, but the US’s most recent goal in a World Cup was a “blink and you missed it” sort that seemed to even catch its scorer in a daze as the US lost to the Dutch. JRImportance: 10/15; Quality: 10/15; Vibes: 6/15.Caligiuri’s hit was the better of the US’s two finishes in 1990, but pales in relevance to others on this list. No worries, though: Caligiuri also scored arguably the biggest goal in the history of American men’s soccer, clinching the Americans’ berth at the 1990 World Cup. PMImportance: 10/15; Quality: 5/15; Vibes: 11/15.Growing up in Nacogdoches, they used to call Dempsey the game cock. Examining how he put this one goalwards, you can kind of see why. PMImportance: 11/15; Quality: 6/15; Vibes: 10/15.Fate has brought this goal alongside the previous one, as if a variation on a theme. There were plenty of headlines after this one about the “groin” injury Pulisic suffered at the tail end of a well-worked effort – he turned out to be fine despite his facial expression transmitting the exact opposite message in the moment. AAImportance: 11/15; Quality: 5/15; Vibes: 11/15.Imagine if your team scored the ugliest beer league goal in front of tens of millions. Dempsey deserves credit for shaking Steven Gerrard and trying this most speculative effort, but Rob Green’s suffering makes for some very complicated vibes. More of a banter-piece than a great goal, in truth. The first of several goals on this list that was undeniably enhanced by Ian Darke’s masterful calls for ESPN. JRImportance: 10/15; Quality: 9/15; Vibes: 9/15.On the one hand, a penalty can only score so high on these charts. On the other: it’s a damn good penalty, and one that kept US hopes alive in the round of 16. JRImportance: 8/15; Quality: 12/15; Vibes: 9/15.Perhaps a bit awkward that, of all the goals, it’s Green’s which checks in directly ahead of Donovan’s final World Cup goal. Like Wright’s, it proved to be a consolation prize as the US were eliminated in a round of 16 match. Unlike Wright’s, it’s clear that Green meant this one, asking for a ball over the top seconds before Michael Bradley provided this assist. JRImportance: 10/15; Quality: 10/15; Vibes: 10/15.The strike that sets the bar: by our grading, the quintessential “three-star” goal of them all. The opening salvo of the US’s shock quarter-final run, O’Brien caught Vítor Baía and the tournament field off-guard with this lurking far-post finish on a corner kick. JRImportance: 7/15; Quality: 12/15; Vibes: 11/15.Maybe Dempsey’s most well-taken World Cup finish. He hits it full stride and the ensuing celebration is pure Deuce, as well. This one, though, will mostly be remembered as a tiny glimmer of hope in a very, very disappointing World Cup for the US. PMImportance: 9/15; Quality: 11/15; Vibes: 12/15.While many strikes on this list are of the powered variety, Weah’s is firmly in the finesse category. Gregg Berhalter’s team rallied around concepts of “verticality” and made quick work of advancing upfield. JRImportance: 11/15; Quality: 12/15; Vibes: 10/15.A memorable goal by the poster boy of the 2002 squad, one that led to maybe the most iconic (and polarizing) call in the history of American soccer. Say it with me, folks: “THAT’S WHY HE’S HERE!” PMImportance: 12/15; Quality: 10/15; Vibes: 13/15.Is there an angrier, more energetic pairing of goals than Bradley and Donovan’s in this Slovenia match? Bradley lays it all on the line to get his right foot on this one and the ensuing celebration makes this one even more memorable, as Bradley motions for all of his teammates to join him at the sideline. It turns into quite a dogpile. PMImportance: 12/15; Quality: 9/15; Vibes: 14/15.What may seem like a standard goal for a tall central defender is rendered special in the details. Brooks was making his competitive debut for the US, having been drafted in as a half-time sub for a hobbled Matt Besler. He said afterward that the night before he had dreamed of scoring. Yet the goal itself still clearly came as a surprise, giving us the indelible image of Brooks so overcome with disbelief and emotion that he could only fall to the ground, his face in the grass and arms over his head.It subverts every expectation of what a goal celebration should be, and for that reason it is my favorite of all time. AAImportance: 10/15; Quality: 13/15; Vibes: 13/15.Maybe the most underrated on this list in terms of its quality, as memories of it were swiftly replaced by his goal in the following group game.One can feel the anger of this talented US team that had beaten mighty Spain at the previous year’s Confederations Cup already on the brink of elimination midway through their second group game. Rather than get too clever or wait for a support run, Donovan puts plenty behind this shot. Samir Handanović can’t be blamed for ducking out of the way. JRImportance: 11/15; Quality: 13/15; Vibes: 13/15.I watched this around 4am during summer vacation, and McBride forever codified the diving header among the coolest kind of goals in my young American heart. But spare a thought for Tony Sanneh, whose incredible cross set it up. In the modern era, he would have been a world-class wing-back. JRImportance: 8/15; Quality: 15/15; Vibes: 14/15.While the quality of the goal would hold up as a silent highlight, the soundscape on this one may be second to none.The silent second after Jones fires the shot, followed by a satisfying swish caught by the netside microphone. Tack on another classic Darke call – some masterful syncopation on “simply sensational strike” – and this one won’t be soon forgotten. JRImportance: 13/15; Quality: 12/15; Vibes: 13/15.While the US v Mexico was already a certified rivalry, this cycle turned it into one of the international game’s great duels. Mexico had dominated North American soccer throughout the 20th century, but the US’s 2-0 win over El Tri in Concacaf qualifying hinted that the northern neighbors were on the rise. The draw truly gave neutrals a gift with this one, and the US came out of the gates with a point to prove on a global stage.It’s a goal largely created and finished by a pair of program legends, from Claudio Reyna’s dogged upfield scamper to McBride’s finish with power and placement. This goal almost certainly doesn’t come off without Josh Wolff’s preternatural awareness and deft execution, a rare decoy effort that was rewarded with a goal contribution. It kicked off an occasion that proved worthy of a full oral history nearly two decades later. JRImportance: 11/15; Quality: 13/15; Vibes: 14/15.The quickest goal in US World Cup history, this is vintage Dempsey. More than any other player in the history of the program, Clint seemed to “try shit,” as Bruce Arena once put it. With three touches and a brilliant, left-footed finish across the face of goal, Dempsey almost single-handedly ended the US’s bizarrely cursed relationship with Ghana, helping lead them to a crucial group stage win. Dempsey has said that this goal is his all-time favorite, and he can’t be blamed. – PMImportance: 14/15; Quality: 11/15; Vibes: 14/15.Even for a team and player so practiced in quick, deadly counter-attacks, this one is a beauty to watch. Each leg of the journey snaps into place seamlessly. Eddie Lewis doesn’t need to break his stride even for a second to meet O’Brien’s lofted ball over the Mexican midfield. Lewis then paid that forward, launching an inch-perfect cross that Donovan could head home before peeling off in celebration in one flowing movement.The US v Mexico rivalry is one of the fiercest on the globe, and it’s been played 32 times since that meeting in Jeonju. That this meeting is still talked about as a defining result among those speaks to the power of the World Cup – and of that famous dos-a-cero scoreline that this goal made reality. AAImportance: 13/15; Quality: 14/15; Vibes: 15/15.On the eve of the USMNT’s group-stage opener against Switzerland in 1994, Wynalda found himself hitting a few free-kicks at the Pontiac Silverdome. In the run-up to the match, midfielder Claudio Reyna had been the team’s go-to on set pieces. Wynalda, though, noticed something that night – inside the indoor venue, the ball carried better. So the next day, with the US desperately needing points out of their first match, Wynalda called Reyna off of a free-kick some 30 yards from goal. Then he stepped up and hit arguably the most clinically-taken goal in the USMNT’s World Cup history.Tack on the team celebration, those classic faux-denim kits, and Tony Meola’s arm-swings of relief, and it’s a worthy entry on the podium.Years later, Wynalda reunited with Switzerland keeper Marco Pascolo “The only good thing about that goal,” Wynalda remembers him saying, “is that nobody would ever criticise me for not saving it. Nobody could save it.” PMImportance: 14/15; Quality: 15/15; Vibes: 14/15.Fans often think of earlier USMNT sides as being technically deficient, or miles behind more modern groups. Doing that is myopic and fails to give credit where it’s due. Nowhere is that more apparent than on Stewart’s goal, which maybe, more than any other, put soccer on the map for the general American public.The majority of clips you see online of Stewart’s hit are limited to his finish and Tab Ramos’s perfectly hit through ball. If you manage to roll the tape back further, you’ll see a brilliantly-worked team finish, with the US using a 10-pass sequence to cut open the Colombian defense, Ramos offering arguably the best assist in the US’s history at the World Cup, and Stewart sending Stanford Stadium into rapture. PMImportance: 15/15; Quality: 13/15; Vibes: 15/15.There are very few moments in the history of American men’s soccer when the whole of the country unites in celebration. Donovan’s last-gasp goal against Algeria – which capped off a masterful counterattack – sent the whole of the sports-watching public in the US into ecstasy.The moment also occurred at a critical juncture for soccer in the US, right around the time it went fully online. Videos of celebrations in bars, at huge watch parties and in tiny living rooms painted the impact of Donovan’s goal so clearly. All these years later, many US fans still get goosebumps at one simple sentence:“There are things on here for the USA.” PM

World Cup News

Morocco’s semi-final appearance in Qatar has raised the possibility of an African team reaching the final, but who are best poised to do so?With a record 10 African teams at the first 48-nation World Cup, the big question, after Morocco’s historic semi-final appearance in Qatar, is whether any of them can go a step further.The prospect of an African side becoming world champions appeared realistic after Cameroon defied the odds to beat Diego Maradona’s Argentina, the defending champions, in the opening game of the 1990 tournament and embarked on a fairytale run that ended in a 3-2 quarter-final defeat by England. But in the eight subsequent World Cups, African teams have been long on promise and short on delivery.Pelé, the sport’s all-time great, predicted: “An African nation will win the World Cup before the year 2000.” That we are still waiting is not down to of a lack of talent but a consequence of self-inflicted governance wounds, as Joseph-Antoine Bell, a goalkeeper in Cameroon’s 1982, 1990 and 1994 World Cups squads, bluntly puts it.“Our football is not really improving … we don’t challenge ourselves to be excellent,” says Bell, one of the continent’s most articulate football minds and a trenchant critic of Africa’s underperformance. “Before the 1960s, Africa already had good players in Europe, which means that we are not lacking players. What have we won at the World Cup? Now that the tournament has been increased to 48 teams, we are dull enough to think we have more chances to win?“When the World Cup was being staged in 2010, some people were saying that because the tournament was in Africa, an African team would win it. Rubbish. As far as winning [the World Cup] is concerned, we are not getting more chances.”Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will represent Africa this summer, with Cameroon and Nigeria notable absentees. “Many see Cameroon as the pacesetter in African football but Morocco are the real leaders, as they were the first to reach the second round of the World Cup [in 1986] and the first to reach the semi-final in Qatar,” Bell says. “I think they will be the best chance for Africa at this World Cup with Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and perhaps Egypt, which seems to be consistent in qualifying. If you’re there every time and you improve each time, you can hope to go further.“But we need to remind all of them that going beyond the first round can no longer be the target, because the first round, when there are 48 teams, is not the same as when we had 32 teams. The target is winning [the World Cup], and the distance [to the trophy] is no longer the same.”What has not changed is the off-field drama, the tragicomedy of errors, among several African countries going to the tournament, which is a damning testament to the incompetence of football federations supposed to put the continent’s best foot forward.Pape Thiaw, Senegal’s head coach, initially refused to board the plane in Dakar taking the team to the World Cup, in protest at the failure of the Senegal Football Federation to pay several months’ wages and at working without a contract since it expired after he led the team to January’s Africa Cup of Nations final. It took the last-minute intervention of the Senegalese government to resolve the impasse.“Becoming the best team, the best country in the world means that you have good players, a good coach, good staff but it also means you must have good governance to support you,” Bell says. “The entire package must be right. When your team comes from a country where they forget to pay the salary of the coach, and you say you want to win the World Cup, that is an insult to the rest of the world, where people really work hard to get things right. We have to start by being serious.“It takes much more than footballers to be the world champions: it takes people, it takes managers, who think with their heads, before players come to the field to play with their feet.”Beyond the uncertain fortune of Africa’s teams, the inability of thousands of fans from the qualified nations to get travel visas has left a sour taste of exclusion from what is supposed to be an inclusive event.“The absence of the colourful, exuberant African spectators, because of the difficulty of travel, the cost of everything and difficulty of visas to go to the United States is coming into play,” says Segun Odegbami, the former Nigeria captain and 1980 Afcon winner. “I have been waiting for 14 months to get a date to attend an interview [at the US embassy in Abuja] … I am not a first-time visitor. I have cancelled the possibility of going.”Given that Odegbami was in the US for the 1994 World Cup as the Super Eagles’ administrative manager, his situation is profoundly striking. But he refuses to be pessimistic about what the next five weeks could mean for Africa’s World Cup scorecard.“We have passed the stage of just being participants, to being competitors and contenders in the top four,” he says. “We are knocking on the door.”Opening that door to the final – and the trophy – when games are won by the smallest of margins, and exhibiting a high level of professionalism, is the great challenge. But nothing would make the continent’s 1.5 billion people happier than to have a stake in the match at the MetLife Stadium on 19 July.

World Cup News

Low wages and fears of ICE crackdowns have set workers on edge of strike as thousands set to arrive during World CupHospitality and food service workers in several US cities hosting World Cup games are warning of looming labor disputes and possible strikes as the largest single sport tournament in the world gets ready to kick off on 11 June.In Los Angeles, California, about 2,000 workers at SoFi Stadium represented by Unite Here Local 11 voted 96% in favor of a strike authorization as workers are seeking a new union contract with wage increases and protections from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, concessions workers and food attendants at the stadium, could walk off the job at any time. The US’s opening match, against Paraguay, is scheduled to take place at SoFi Stadium on 12 June.“We’re just trying to make things fair,” said Eva Miles, a bartender at SoFi stadium since it opened in 2021. “Without us, they don’t have a stadium. Are they going to cook? Are they going to pour those drinks? Are they going to serve these people?”Miles said she and her coworkers cannot afford to live near the stadium on the wages they’re currently paid. She commutes 2 hours to work every day and said some coworkers have even longer journeys.“Let’s see them live on our wage, let’s see them raise a family,” added Miles. Workers are pushing for pay above $30 an hour. “I’ve been there since the beginning. I love meeting new people. I want my guests to be happy, and I want them to enjoy it and have a great experience. I know they spend a lot of money, and I know they’re spending a lot of money on this Fifa World Cup, so I don’t understand why we can’t get what we want and everybody be happy.”The unions, ACLU of Southern California, and LAANE, have also filed a formal complaint with California privacy protection agency and the California department of justice, over Fifa’s accreditation policy that requires workers to divulge immigration information in order to work this summer’s World Cup.Enrique Fernández, general vice-president for immigration, civil rights, and diversity at Unite Here, noted many members of the union are immigrants who will be working at hospitality venues across World Cup host cities.Members of the union include immigrants from nearly 200 countries; the union traces its foundation back to the 1912 Bread and Roses strike of textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, organized by immigrant founders of the union.“They experience the effects of anti-immigrant policy and rhetoric every day, and they don’t need the added stress of tracking ICE agents at their workplaces,” said Fernández.SoFi Stadium declined to comment, deferring to the concessionaire that employs the workers, Legends Global.“Legends Global has enjoyed a strong relationship with Unite Here Local 11 for more than a decade and remains committed to reaching a fair agreement through good faith negotiations,” said a spokesperson in an email. “We look forward to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience for fans at the Fifa World Cup matches at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium).”In Seattle, hotel workers represented by Unite Here Local 8 at the Embassy Suite Hilton near Lumen Field, where six World Cup games will be held, voted 94% in favor of a strike authorization. Around 100 workers at the hotel are fighting for pay increases, year-round health insurance coverage, ICE protections and improved staffing.“We need the wages to improve,” said Hayden Eyerly, a front desk employee at the Embassy Suite Hilton. He noted the hotel has only offered raises of around $0.80 an hour annually over the course of the contract. “No one here thinks that is reasonable, because of the rising cost of everything, gas prices in particular.”He said some workers in the unit regularly lose health insurance during tourism offseason due to a loss of work hours and argued that staffing levels at the hotel haven’t recovered to their pre-pandemic levels.Eyerly noted many of his coworkers are immigrants, and had been advised by their immigration attorney to refrain from speaking to the media out of concern for retaliation toward their immigration status.“Everyone is very tired. Every department has been working on a skeleton crew,” added Eyerly. “We’re trying to make real changes, a real positive impact in our lives. We all deserve to work one job, we all deserve to come home and have the energy to be there for our families.”A Hilton spokesperson said the hotel has contingency plans in place if a strike does occur.“We remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair and reasonable agreement that benefits both our valued Team Members and our hotel,” they said in an email.In Philadelphia, workers at six hotels represented by Unite Here Local 274 are threatening possible strikes during the World Cup games in the city as their union contracts have expired without another agreement in place. A strike deadline for 12 June has been set by the hotels if new deals aren’t reached by then.Maciah Magloughlin, a server at the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District, said workers are pushing for substantial wage increases, a workload cap of 15 rooms for housekeepers, protections from ICE for immigrant workers and more affordable health coverage for dependents.“The hotels have the money to give us what we deserve,” said Magloughlin, who cited the projected $770m economic impact of the World Cup for the Philadelphia area. “What we’re fighting for is that the people who hold this industry up on their back also get a piece of that, because people are fighting to send their kids to school or take time off or buy groceries, and that’s not fair, especially when we’ve got such a big summer coming.”The Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District said in a statement on the strike threat as negotiations for a new union contract are ongoing: “We respect our team members’ rights to engage in legally protected activities and look forward to reaching a fair contract. While discussions are ongoing, we remain committed to ensuring our guests enjoy their stay.”

World Cup News

Iran's allocation of fan tickets for the group stage of the World Cup has been revoked just days before the start of the tournament, says the country's football federation.The World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, begins on Thursday, with Iran scheduled to play New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June - both in Los Angeles - before facing Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.Iran's governing body says Fifa regulations state each federation involved in the World Cup receives 8% of the tickets for each of their matches, to distribute to supporters.It added that it had already begun selling tickets but can no longer provide them to fans, some of whom have already made travel arrangements."Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit of governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries," the FFIRI statement said."This development raises serious questions about the interference of non-sporting and political considerations in the organisation of the world's biggest football event."The FFIRI also called on Fifa "to uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations".The flag Iranians are not allowed to wave at the World CupAttributionNewsPublished1 day agoLast-minute visas and moving training camp: Iran's road to the World CupAttributionNewsPublished1 day agoIran's involvement in the World Cup has been plagued with uncertainty, linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns.On 25 May, Iran moved their training base from Tucson, Arizona to the Mexican city of Tijuana, claiming the US were unwilling to host them.Under the conditions of their visas, they will have to fly in and out of the United States on matchday for each of their three group games.Less than a fortnight later, on 6 June, they accused the US of denying visas to "integral" members of the national team's backroom staff, with 15 administrative officials denied entry.The FFIRI had previously presented Fifa with a list of 10 conditions for their participation in the World Cup, including allowing players, coaches and officials who have completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said Iran's players will be welcome at the tournament but individuals with links to the IRGC could face entry restrictions.Iran were the only country not present at Fifa's annual congress in Vancouver in April after a delegation of FFIRI officials, including president Medhi Taj, were turned away at the Canadian border.Everything you need to know about the World Cup

World Cup News

Forty-eight teams, 104 matches - and you can predict them all across the BBC Sport website and app.A new predictor game is being introduced to cover this year's World Cup, allowing users to pick what they think will be the result from every match.The new game also features streaks, so make sure to check in each day and make your predictions.Players will also have the chance to enter a prize draw to win an official World Cup football signed by members of the BBC World Cup team.Here is all you need to know about BBC Sport's World Cup predictor.Make your selections, or click 'How to Play' to be guided through how it works.For every match, you either choose a winner or a draw.Once your prediction has been submitted you are unable to change it, so be sure to pick carefully.After that, wait for the results to roll in and see how you have done.Every consecutive round you play adds one to your streak, but if you miss a round your streak resets to zero.There are three official World Cup footballs to give away in our prize draws, signed by ex-France defender Gael Clichy, presenter Kelly Cates, and former England internationals Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Joe Hart, Wayne Rooney, Ellen White and Steph Houghton.Once you play the predictor, you will get a chance to enter the draw by filling in a form.The first draw will run during the group stage, the second includes the last 32 and last 16, and the third for predicting the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.Follow World Cup 2026 closer than ever with live match updates from BBC Sport

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Diogo Jota's widow has urged Scotland captain Andrew Robertson to carry his former Liverpool team-mate in his heart when he lives their dream of playing at the World Cup.Jota died aged 28 in a car crash last July, after helping Portugal secure World Cup qualification.Jota, won 49 caps but never played at a World Cup after missing the 2022 tournament through a calf injury."I couldn't get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today," defender Robertson said after Scotland secured World Cup qualification in November."We spoke so much about going to the World Cup because he missed the last one with Portugal and I did with Scotland. I know he'll be smiling over me today."In a letter to Robertson published by Fifa, Rute Cardoso, the mother of Jota's three children, said: "Diogo often spoke of you. Of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football... and about dreams."The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured, side by side, with the same passion with which you took to the pitch."When I heard your words and learnt what you felt on that day when Scotland qualified for the World Cup, after so many years of waiting, I realised that Diogo never truly left the pitch."By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you won't be going alone."You'll be taking his dream with you too. And when you step on to the pitch, I know it won't just be you walking out. Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart."So today, I want to thank you. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you. Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful."That's how we do it here at home too. Every day. He would be, and is, incredibly proud of you. Cherish that dream, Andy. Live it for yourself and for him."Robertson was filmed by Fifa reading out the letter and thanked Cardoso, saying it would stay with him for a "very long time".The World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July.Scotland, playing in their first World Cup since 1998, face Haiti on Sunday, Morocco on 19 June and Brazil on 24 June in Group C.Robertson, who has joined Tottenham since leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, said: "I'll carry him in my heart and I know he'll be with me come the first game, come the second game, come the third game and hopefully beyond that."He's always there. The memories are always something that we bring up and sometimes laugh, sometimes cry."And that will be no different, especially going into a tournament which is full of emotion. I know he'll be right at the front of my mind."I'm not only just playing for me. I'm playing for both of us."

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Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes celebrates with Gonçalo Guedes and Pedro Neto after a goal against Chile in a pre-World Cup friendly. Photograph: Rodrigo Antunes/ReutersA last World Cup – surely – for Cristiano Ronaldo, and Portugal are in great shape for a long run in the competitionThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.Portugal secured their ninth World Cup appearance, and their seventh in a row, with relative ease, even if a home draw against Hungary in October and a defeat in Ireland in November delayed the celebrations until the final matchday. In that final game, Roberto Martínez’s side (without Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been sent off in Dublin) thrashed Armenia 9-1.Variety is the key quality here. Martínez capitalises on the tactical versatility of his squad: João Neves and Matheus Nunes can operate as full-backs or midfielders (sometimes in the same match); João Cancelo and Diogo Dalot play comfortably on either flank; and Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva constantly rotate roles. Despite this fluidity, the coach’s selections remain stable. The starting XI has at least seven “untouchable” spots. The spine is well defined, led by figures such as Diogo Costa, Rúben Dias, Fernandes, Silva and Ronaldo, with Nuno Mendes and Vitinha also serving as undisputed starters.“We won 10 games in a row on the road to Euro 2024, but the team wasn’t as prepared then as it is now. Challenges help you grow,” Martínez noted after qualifying. “Back then, we lacked the resilience needed to win titles. In the Nations League, it was different. We reacted when Germany scored, when Spain scored, and we won the tournament. That is where we are now. We must prepare well.”The head coach wants his players to give everything and bring the values of the Portuguese people to the pitch but there is also a more personal mission this time around after the tragic events of 2025. “It is a responsibility to fight for Diogo’s dream,” says the coach, who, since the deaths of Jota and his brother André Silva, has included the former’s name on his squad announcements. “He [Jota] is our strength and our joy. His spirit, his strength and his example are the driving force, and they always will be.”Roberto Martínez was close to leaving the national team a year ago (with José Mourinho waiting in the wings), but winning the Nations League earned him a vote of confidence from the new FPF president, the former international referee Pedro Proença. Although he suffered his first defeat in a qualifying phase after 43 matches, the Spanish coach secured his third World Cup appearance, having gone twice with Belgium, without much stress. However, this doesn’t mean the cycle with Portugal won’t end this summer, even with success. “The president and I are aligned: the focus is the World Cup. It’s not a matter of wanting or not wanting; it’s not on the table. The World Cup cannot wait, but the manager’s situation can,” he said in March, keeping the mystery alive.It seems unlikely that he’ll celebrate his 1,000th career goal during this World Cup, but being so close to that milestone speaks volumes about the ambition of Cristiano Ronaldo. At 41, he is participating in the tournament for a record sixth time (with 22 matches and eight goals in previous editions). Already a legend, the captain symbolises the hunger of a nation wanting to pair a World Cup trophy with their Euro 2016 title. He remains a magnet for fans and defenders alike, destined to inspire chants, selfies and viral moments. “The dream ended,” Ronaldo wrote on social media in 2022 after Portugal’s quarter-final exit against Morocco. Four years later, the forward returns to attack “the biggest and most ambitious dream” of his career one last time. No one is willing to bet on when this incomparable journey will end. “People think when I talk about retiring soon, it means in six months or a year. I’m joking!”“Inácio was a backup left-back for the under-23s and under-19s. Some players can surprise you.” Those are the words of Ruben Amorim, the man responsible for Gonçalo Inácio’s rise at Sporting. Despite his discreet and introverted nature, the centre-back became a pillar for his club and one of its captains. He sheds his shyness with every line-breaking pass, a trademark skill that will be vital for Portugal in this World Cup. Having already featured at Euro 2024 and played a part in last year’s Nations League win, he enters this tournament with bolstered status as the primary candidate to partner Rúben Dias in the heart of the defence.He may still have fans to win over globally due to the lower visibility of the Portuguese league, but Diogo Costa is a guarantee of safety. The Porto captain is a worthy successor to Vítor Baía for both club and country. Portugal’s No 1 since 2022, he is heading into his second World Cup. Cat-like between the posts and exceptional with his feet, he is also a penalty-saving specialist; he famously stopped three consecutive penalties against Slovenia in the Euro 2024 last 16. “Portugal’s secret is Diogo; he is European football’s best-kept secret,” Martínez said at the time. Costa was equally decisive in the Nations League final a year ago, saving a crucial Spanish penalty.While a World Cup in North America is expensive, Portuguese fans are fiercely loyal. They will be present in large numbers, especially as the team progresses. They might not always dominate the stands numerically, but their presence will be felt. While some supporters can’t leave club rivalries behind (even in their choice of attire), the green and red of the flag will predominate, often seen on jerseys bearing Ronaldo’s name. Support is typically loud but non-aggressive, characterised by encouraging chants and a touch of humour. Portuguese fans are generally relaxed, peaceful, and leave a positive impression on host countries.Donald Trump divides opinion in Portugal just as he does elsewhere. The use of the Lajes air base in the Azores for American military operations remains a point of political debate. The football federation has sought to avoid delicate debates regarding the tournament’s organisation, with fans focusing more on the high cost of tickets and travel. While Trump rarely mentions Portugal specifically, he hosted Cristiano Ronaldo at the White House in November during a visit by the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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BBC TV and radio host on sportswashing, the brilliance of watching Argentina up close and why Donald Trump won’t be able to hijack the football glory“Before every tournament there are always concerns,” Kelly Cates says as she approaches her fifth World Cup as a television and radio presenter. “There’s always something everybody’s worried about. This time I worry about the humidity and the altitude for the players and there are political concerns, obviously.“But there are also concerns that it’s not going to feel like a World Cup. In the US, they probably see that as a good thing. They probably see it as: ‘We’re going to make it better.’ Whereas we’re looking at it from a more traditional point of view, thinking: ‘Why are you going to change something that’s so amazing in the first place?’”Cates, who will present World Cup games on BBC television and Radio 5 Live, worked in Russia in 2018 and Qatar four years later, and she does not try to sidestep that we are about to be immersed in a tournament that takes place mostly in Donald Trump’s America. It starts in Mexico City on Thursday, and features 13 games each in Mexico and Canada, but the bulk of it will be played in the US.There is widespread antipathy towards America in Mexico, Canada and Europe and the tournament will unfold against the US’s war in Iran as well as the absurd double act of Trump and Fifa’s grovelling president, Gianni Infantino, who has allowed obscene ticket and travel prices to soar.“We do try to talk about it all, especially in the buildup,” says Cates who, as always, combines natural warmth with a refreshing willingness to discuss difficult issues. “Once the football gets under way we have this great distraction and that’s the point, isn’t it? But there’s a difficult line between taking the World Cup to countries where it wouldn’t traditionally be, and that can be a genuine force for good, and taking it to countries where it can be hijacked for someone’s political promotion or personal gain.“But I’m not sure the idea of sportswashing works that well in a World Cup, because I don’t think people really pay too much attention to where it’s being staged. They watch the football and really don’t have that sense of place. I don’t think people watched the Qatar World Cup and thought: ‘I really want to go to Doha.’ I don’t think people watched the 2018 World Cup, even with England reaching the semi-final, and thought: ‘I really must book a flight to Russia.’”Cates smiles diplomatically when asked how she feels about a World Cup that won’t be able to escape Trump. “I assume, because of his PR nous and skill for self-promotion, he will want to be front and centre. But I’m not sure that has the knock-on effect he will hope for. It might domestically. But he’s the kind of person that anything he does just consolidates what people already think of him now. I don’t think anybody’s changing their minds about him.”The 50-year-old then laughs at herself. “But I’m giddy about the fact they’ve decided to put Madonna on at half-time [of the final on 19 July]. I’m very sniffy about half-time shows, but now that Madonna’s going to be there [along with Shakira and the K-pop stars BTS], it has made it a much better idea.”Cates soon becomes more serious. “But you don’t get the full World Cup experience unless the fans are there, unless you have fans being able to travel in the first place. Not everybody’s going to be able to, either financially or logistically or because of travel bans. So that’s another issue and I think they’re missing out on what makes a World Cup special. They’re hoping they will be able to put razzmatazz around it and bring the American showbiz factor that’s going to make up for [the missing fans]. But it won’t feel like a traditional World Cup.”Cates is a football fan as much as a media pro. “I’m really wary of saying all these caveats and concerns will spoil the World Cup because when it gets under way you feel the buzz, don’t you? Even for us working in it.”She draws hope from the way football sustained her in Qatar. “It was quite stressful going over there. We’d had lots of conversations and there was a lot of anxiety about how we would cover it. I was really worried about getting the tone right. I was also concerned with how sanitised the games were going to be.“There was a coldness at times, but I went to Argentina v Mexico and the stand directly across from us had a peak in the middle and so it felt incredibly high and incredibly far away. It was slightly fuzzy and looked a little bit like old footage of Argentina 1978. It had that vintage feel to it and their fans were incredible.“Bar the Saudi Arabia game, which I’m not too worried about having missed, I went to every Argentina game in Qatar, whether it was to work on or just to watch. I ended up getting so involved, I felt Argentinian by the end of it. There are all these links between Argentina and Scotland so I was like: ‘Right, these are my people.’ So when they won it I was beside myself. That final? What a genuine privilege. And what a privilege to see Messi at close quarters.”Cates shakes her head in wonder. “We talked about it on 5 Live with Tim Vickery [the South America football expert] and it was like watching an alligator. They sit below the surface and look like a rock and nobody notices them and then they snap. It was so incredible to watch this all-time great in action. Me and my friend, Simon, who was a producer on many of the games, saw a lot of Argentina together. Every now and again we still send each other a text that says: ‘Have you ever seen Messi win the World Cup?’”Enthusiasm pours out with her laughter and Cates sounds even more excited when we remember how some of the World Cup qualifying matches, especially as Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 in November, were the equal of almost anything else this season.“I was working for BBC Scotland at Hampden and it was incredible,” she says. “They did a commentary-cam, with a camera on all the pundits, and I ended up sitting in the middle of them. I don’t know how it slipped through the net on social media because what you can see, and a few of my friends noticed, is that when Scotland went ahead with that amazing Scott McTominay goal I’m in the middle going: ‘What a fucking goal.’“My friends were texting me going: ‘How has that slipped through? We can all lip read.’ It was also so cold and I’ve got really big, heavy gloves on so I looked like someone who’d never clapped in their life. I was so overexcited.“I did a show with Pat Nevin on the radio last month about moments of the season. Pat said it might be the greatest feeling he’s had, watching or playing, in any game of football. Genuinely, it was so special.“We’ve had so many years of glorious failure so we all went in steeled for that. After the first goal that euphoria was quickly tempered by a feeling of: ‘Well, we scored too early.’ But there were three more sensational goals and my phone was beeping constantly till four in the morning because nobody could sleep. Everybody was wired.”Does Cates have some sadness the BBC decided she, her fellow presenters, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, and their pundits, will be working in a studio in Salford until the later stages of the tournament? “At first I was a little bit disappointed. But I’m now very much on the positive side and thinking: ‘Do you know what? It would be impossible to get to enough games to cover them.’”Cates says “we’ll still have a presence. For the Scotland matches, Eilidh Barbour’s going to be there and we’ll have people in the stadium. But when I think about the first Scotland game [against Haiti], I like the idea it’s going to be two in the morning. We won’t be in quite the same headspace as everybody who’s watching it in the pub, but we’re going to be in that slightly unreal, middle-of-the-night, mad World Cup kick-off time zone.“I’m going to get in Irn-Bru and Tunnocks Caramel Wafers and Teacakes and make it a bit of a party atmosphere in the studio so we’re in the same headspace as people watching at home. There’s something nice in being mentally and emotionally in the same place as the viewers.”She will do “a mix of TV and radio and then I’m heading out to the US for 5 Live for the semi-finals and final”. On television, Cates, Logan and Chapman will guide a panel of pundits including Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Thomas Frank and Olivier Giroud, but will she keep a close eye on the BBC’s rivals at ITV?“Very much so and much more than in a normal tournament. I’m going to be able to watch everything and that’s nice because I know a lot of the ITV pundits. I’ve worked with them week in, week out. There’s a rivalry at a corporate level where they’re looking at numbers, but not for us. We just want to watch the games and watch our mates.”For Cates, “there is a sense of responsibility in having that many viewers trusting you to bring the coverage. You don’t want to let people down. World Cups are such a big part of people’s lives, and we’re covering it for kids who will have their first World Cup memories in this one and we’re also covering it for people for whom it’s a huge part of their lives every four years.“But, mostly, they remember the games. Then they’ll remember the pundits, but we presenters are way down the list. Nobody’s really going: ‘There was that amazing World Cup moment with a presenter.’ Unless it’s Des Lynam, of course.”Cates laughs again and, as always happens in the World Cup, the pre-tournament concerns fade. She will also host Scotland v Brazil in their final group game and Cates can’t stop smiling. “Just the thought of Scotland being in the World Cup is amazing. If your own country isn’t there, it’s not the same. I know we’ve been in it before in my lifetime, but this feels different. This feels more emotional.”

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Micheal Barwagen is part of an all-Canadian crew at this World Cup, and says the new offside system makes his job easier in some waysThe 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to feature semi-automated offside technology, utilizing a dozen cameras to track player movement at a rate of 50 stills per second. In theory, it sounds like an effective, if dizzying, way to cut down on delays and better aid the officials.One of those officials is Micheal Barwegan, who is part of the first all-Canadian officiating team in men’s World Cup history. He has worked with referee Drew Fischer and fellow assistant referee Lyes Arfa increasingly often over the past two years. The team worked in-tandem at the 2024 Olympics and last summer’s Club World Cup along with their more regular work in club soccer.This summer won’t be his first semi-automated rodeo. That came last summer, when he was stationed along the touchline during Botafogo’s famous win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup.Barwegan said that while the tech certainly helps with his job, it does not turn the assistant referee into an autopilot-led role.“I’m gonna tell you, the semi-automated system is not perfect,” Barwegan said. “As such, our job stays exactly the same. It is really, really good – I like to say I’m a little bit better – but I think that’s purely just on a technical side with how it’s programmed.“It’s tracking every player, and it’s got points [on each of those players] that it’s tracking … so I’m going to say it is as perfect as an assistant referee, if not better, on your normal run-of-the-mill offside calls. Its accuracy is amazing at that.”All of those cameras tracking all of those limbs assess when an attacker is stationed to receive a pass beyond the second-to-last defender. If it’s absolutely certain, the system notifies assistant referees with an “offside, offside, offside” message in an automated voice through their earpiece. As of last summer’s Club World Cup, being “clearly offside” means the gap between defender and attacker is more than 10cm.Whenever it gets closer, the system will say “delay” in the assistant referee’s earpiece. If there isn’t a clear offside call to flag – either due to minimal gaps between the players involved or some off-ball movement that complicates assessing the scenario – there is no message. All the while, the assistant referees must do their usual work, allowing the match to progress so long as the play is inconclusive.Those automated messages are only received by assistant referees, who are also in constant contact with the referee for the full duration of a match. Barwegan and some of his peers have begun relaying what the semi-automated system tells them as an important part of their role.“The advantage to us on those plays is that the system doesn’t make a decision until the offside position player touches the ball,” Barwegan said. “When the ball gets played and a player’s running, I am quick to say [whether] he’s going to be offside or he’s good, and I will clear it to the referee in his earpiece before another decision has to be made. The computer has to think, and it’s super fast, but [on the field] it feels like forever.”Barwegan, a math teacher and a board game afficionado, first began officiating at age 12, hoping to earn “some pocket change.” Within five years, he found that he enjoyed calling games more than he liked playing them, though he’s quick to admit he “wasn’t that good” as a player.“Some people are like, ‘I need to go for a run’,” Barwegan said. “I clearly still need to do that, because I have to run [as a referee]. I like engaging my brain. I like reading rules, deciphering rules, and seeing how systems work together.”By 2012, he was calling professional games. His brother Brian also chose to take up officiating, eventually refereeing high school and college games for 17 years.When it came time for him to hang up his whistle in 2025, Brian had one request: For Micheal to be his AR.“I texted my manager with a weird request: can you [assign] me to Toronto?” Micheal recalled. “He’s like, ‘nobody wants to go to Toronto when it might be cold. What are you doing?”The reasoning was simple; Toronto was the only location close enough to Brian’s home in Alberta for Micheal to work a pro game on Saturday, with enough time to fly back and drive to Brian’s final game.After working Toronto FC’s 4-2 win over Orlando City, Micheal hopped on a flight and got to the University of Lethbridge in time for the Pronghorns’ clash against the University of Alberta Golden Bears.“I came screaming in, threw on a uniform and threw on my badge and went out there,” Barwegan said. “They still yelled at me non-stop. I was doing a game in MLS 14 hours ago, guys. I know what offside is, I promise.”

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The 1974 World Cup in West Germany - what do you think of? Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and the total football of the Dutch runners-up?Or maybe it's Scotland's first-round exit as the only unbeaten team at the finals.The sole nation from the British Isles to qualify, it was the first time the Scots had qualified since 1958. The official song was called Easy, Easy - but it wasn't conceit or hubris that was their downfall, it was goal difference.Joe Jordan and Davie Hay played in all three group matches and recall the campaign...Preparations were eye-opening, to say the least. After mixed results in the Home Internationals, Scotland had warm-up matches in Belgium and Norway. Then there was an infamous incident in Largs.Manager Willie Ormond allowed the players go for a night out in the coastal town and, in the early hours, winger Jimmy Johnstone decided to commandeer a rowing boat. Only problem was, he had no oars and began to drift out to sea.Hay and Eric Schaedler tried to rescue him, but the boat they purloined had a hole in it so they frantically rowed back to the shore. Johnstone had to be rescued by the coastguard, becoming front page news in the process."We gave the perfect response the following Saturday by beating England 2-0," says Hay. "You couldn't say Jimmy beat England single-handedly but he helped destroy them."I always say the perfect preparation should be going out for the evening, having a few drinks, and then a boating trip..."With world champions Brazil drawing 0-0 with Yugoslavia the previous day, Scotland's win over the inexperienced Africans - with goals from Jordan and Peter Lorimer - took them top of group two."There was serious pressure on us because we were the favourites," Hay recalls. "I remember it was exceptionally warm and, being 2-0 up at half-time, I think we took the foot of the gas."Jordan adds: "In hindsight we should have tried to score more goals. Looking at the big picture, it was a mistake. There was a bit of naivety in it. If that game had been our second or third, the scoreline might have been a little different."Scotland had the best chance of the game when a Jordan header was saved by Leao but the rebound struck captain Billy Bremner's shin and squirmed inches past."It wasn't like he could side-foot it in - it bounced off him," Jordan recalls."It wasn't the result we wanted but we didn't feel it was an opportunity missed. We were in a position where we were going into the Yugoslavia game knowing a win would take us through."It was a sterling showing and remains the last time Brazil were denied victory by Scotland."I watched the highlights recently and what impressed me was how balanced the team was," said Hay. "They didn't have Pele, but you are still playing against that magic yellow jersey."In the first 10 minutes we were under the cosh a wee bit, but from then on we were slightly the better team."Meanwhile in Gelsenkirchen, Yugoslavia thrashed Zaire 9-0 amid claims the Africans had threatened to strike before the game over missing payments.Zaire head coach Miljan Miljanic had been a Yugoslavia international as a player. And, with his team 3-0 down after 21 minutes, he replaced his goalkeeper with a 5ft, 4in stand-in. Sixty seconds later it was four."You often find that smaller nations are always up for the first game then fall away," Hay says.22 June, Frankfurt. Scotland 1-1 YugoslaviaVictory would take Scotland into the last eight. Even a draw would have been good enough if Brazil failed to beat Zaire by three clear goals. But they did, winning 3-0.The Scots fell a goal behind with fewer than 10 minutes left, with Jordan's late equaliser not enough.Yugoslavia, Brazil and Scotland finished level on points, with the team who scored fewest against Zaire eliminated."Over the three games, we only conceded one goal," Jordan says. "You go back to the Zaire game, there's a lot of disappointment - we should have done a lot more damage."The only thing Ormond could have done differently was maybe bring Johnstone on against Brazil and Yugoslavia. He didn't play in a single game."I don't know if that was for disciplinary reasons. On reflection, he probably would have made a difference."Brazil and Yugoslavia progressed to the last eight only to both go out in the second group stage.West Germany beat Netherlands 2-1 in the final, but lost to East Germany earlier in the tournament, leaving Scotland as the only unbeaten team in the finals.That's got to count for something, right?Goalkeepers: Allan (Dundee), Harvey (Leeds United), Stewart (Kilmarnock)Defenders: Blackley (Hibernian), Buchan (Manchester United), Donachie (Manchester City), Holton (Manchester United), Jardine (Rangers), McGrain (Celtic), McQueen (Leeds United), Schaedler (Hibernian)Midfielders: Bremner (Leeds United), Cormack (Liverpool), Hay (Celtic), Hutchison (Coventry City), Johnstone (Celtic)Forwards: Dalglish (Celtic), Jordan (Leeds United), Law (Manchester City), Lorimer (Leeds United), Morgan (Manchester United)Everything you need to know about the World Cup