Scotland will be in a four-team group in World Cup qualifying.

It has been confirmed, as first reported by Dale Johnson, that Scotland will begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in September in a four-team group and miss out on a five-team group.

Due to draw complexities; teams can already be assigned to four-team groups depending on the number of teams in each pot needing a Nations League QF/playoff.

As Scotland will compete in the Nations League promotion/relegation playoffs, they will be assigned to a four-team group given the fixtures coincide with the first fixtures of teams in five-team groups.

The five-team groups will begin their qualifying campaigns in March - when Scotland are in Nations League action - with four-team groups to start qualifying matches in September.

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As a result of the draw complications, Scotland already know they will not face any of the six teams in Pot 5 of the World Cup qualifying draw.

Scotland could face any of the national teams in Pot 4 but know there are a number of sides impossible to draw in Pot 2.

Steve Clarke's side cannot face Sweden, Wales, Poland, Romania, Czechia or Norway in World Cup qualifying.

However, Scotland could draw any of the teams in Pot 1 including England. 

2026 World Cup qualifying pots in full (teams Scotland cannot draw scored out)

Pot 1

France

Spain

England

Belgium

Portugal

Netherlands

Italy

Germany

Croatia

Switzerland

Denmark

Austria

Pot 2

Ukraine

Turkiye

Sweden

Wales

Poland

Hungary

Serbia

Greece

Romania

Slovakia

Norway

Czechia

Pot 3

SCOTLAND

Slovenia

Republic of Ireland

Albania

Finland

Georgia

North Macedonia

Iceland

Northern Ireland

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Montenegro

Israel

Pot 4

Bulgaria

Luxembourg

Belarus

Armenia

Kosovo

Kazakhstan

Azerbaijan

Estonia

Cyprus

Latvia

Faroe Islands

Lithuania

Pot 5

Moldova

Malta

Andorra

Gibraltar

Liechtenstein

San Marino