Scotland are heading to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States on the back of a confidence-boosting farewell performance at Hampden Park, where Lawrence Shankland struck twice to down a ten-man Curacao side in the national team's final send-off fixture.
Scotland Head to World Cup 2026 in High Spirits After Hampden Victory Over Curacao

Scotland are heading to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States on the back of a confidence-boosting farewell performance at Hampden Park, where Lawrence Shankland struck twice to down a ten-man Curacao side in the national team's final send-off fixture.
Shankland's brace capped what was a controlled and purposeful display from Steve Clarke's squad, with the striker underlining his importance to the team ahead of their tournament campaign in the USA.
Curacao were reduced to ten men during the match, and Scotland took full advantage, converting the numerical superiority into goals that will have lifted the mood in Clarke's camp heading into the World Cup.
The victory at Hampden wrapped up Scotland's pre-tournament preparations on a high, with players and management alike able to travel to North America knowing they signed off in style on home soil.
Clarke's side will be eager to make their mark on the global stage when the FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway, and a performance of this nature — complete with a clinical goalscorer in Shankland — provides an encouraging foundation for what lies ahead.


