Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 in opening match
Nation aiming to reach World Cup knockout phase for first time
Captain Andy Robertson and coach Steve Clarke speak ahead of match
On Friday evening at the magnificent, sprawling Boston Stadium, Andy Robertson will lead out a team aiming to achieve what no other has done before.
Eight Scottish squads have previously travelled to with big dreams of making deep runs, only to be eliminated in the group stage. Victory over Morocco, however, will ensure a place in the knockouts for the Scots, who go into the game top of Group C after a 1-0 opening-game win over Haiti.
Speaking on the eve of the seismic contest, captain Robertson declared that players and coaching staff have not “shied away” from what is at stake.
“We want to be the first team to be able to do that [qualify for the knockouts] for our country,” he said. “We’re now playing against one of the best teams in the world, but we believe we can make any game difficult.
“If we can do that and put in our best performance, then I believe we can get what we want and hopefully be the ones that achieve that history.”
Morocco sit sixth in the , 31 places above Scotland. They also have recent experience of success on the global stage, having finished fourth at the 2022 World Cup.
On the size of the task at hand, Robertson added: “We know they're a fantastic team and they've got threats all over the park. They did so well in the last World Cup. They were a credit to the whole of Africa, never mind Morocco. Obviously, they've done really well in the recent African Cup of Nations, too.
“We believe in ourselves. I don't think we would be here if we didn't. We had to believe at times in the qualifying campaign that we could do it, when maybe people didn't think we could.
“We've got to focus on our performance. Our aim is to win the game, their aim is to win the game. Hopefully we're the ones smiling come full-time.”
Morocco began their 2026 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, and Scotland coach Steve Clarke believes the Atlas Lions have “gone up another level” since their sensational Qatar 2022 run.
He also outlined, however, why the match may suit his team.
“Sometimes the Scottish psyche, the Scottish mentality, is that we're a little bit more comfortable when we're the underdogs,” Clarke said. “We were the favourites against Haiti and we found the game a struggle, but we managed to win. This time we're the underdogs and sometimes Scotland prefer it that way.”
Being able to call upon inspirational captain Robertson, Clarke explained, offers further cause for optimism.
“He's a proper leader,” said Clarke. “He’s really important for the dynamic of the group. The players all respect him for what he does on the pitch, but they also respect him for what he does off the pitch. He drives the standards along with the rest of the senior players.
"We're starting to introduce a younger group – the next generation of Scottish footballers – and if they can all look at what Andy Robertson does when he represents his country, then we should be in a good place.”
Scotland are certain to backed by a wall of noise by their vocal and vibrant support in Boston. The Tartan Army’s passion, warmth and good humour have won admirers across the city – and skipper Robertson hailed them as “the best in the world”.
“They support the team but also, away from the football, they just carry themselves so well,” Robertson said. “I think every city they go to, people just fall in love with them. That's the biggest compliment I can give them. On Saturday [for the Haiti game], they were magnificent in the stadium too. I know they'll be the same against Morocco.”
Sources: FIFA Official
