Today marks 50 days until the 2026 World Cup. Matches will take place across Canada, Mexico and the USA - and Scotland have qualified for the first time since 1998, when they faced a Brazil side with the original Ronaldo in their line-up.
If nothing else, we’re going to look great. The new away kit is superb. So much so that I bought it the day it was released, the first time I’ve done that with any kit in probably 30 years.
Beyond that? Well, the USA seems to be having a moment, and with the costs of attending rising daily, I really wouldn’t thank you for a ticket to any of Scotland’s games. With the exception of a visit to New York City in September 2001, I cannot think of a worse time to be a tourist in the USA.
All that said, I did ask Claude about traveling to the World Cup as a Scotland fan, and it confidently informed me that Scotland hadn’t qualified. So maybe I should stop worrying.
A: “First, worth noting that Scotland didn’t qualify for 2026 — they were eliminated in the UEFA qualifying play-offs. So this is more of a hypothetical, or perhaps you’re going as a neutral football fan to soak up the tournament!”
Anyway, 50 days until the World Cup starts, and 52 before Scotland’s first match against Haiti in Boston - presuming that goes ahead.
After that, we’ll play Morocco and Brazil, before returning home with our tail between our legs.