FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers match between Scotland vs Greece at Hampden Park on Wednesday evening in a pivotal FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier that could shape the trajectory of Group C. The Tartan Army enter unbeaten with four points from two matches, following their goalless draw in Copenhagen against Denmark and impressive 2-0 victory over Belarus in Hungary.
Steve Clarke’s side will be looking to exorcise the demons from their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Greece in the Nations League back in March, a result that condemned Scotland to relegation from the top tier.
Greece arrived in Glasgow having endured contrasting fortunes in their opening qualifiers. Ivan Jovanović’s team began with a commanding 5-1 home victory over Belarus, showcasing their attacking prowess through goals from Vangelis Pavlidis and Christos Tzolis.
However, their momentum was abruptly halted three days later when they suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to group leaders Denmark in Piraeus, managing just one shot on target and an expected goals tally of 0.17. This inconsistency has left Greece sitting third in the group with three points, knowing that another defeat could severely damage their World Cup ambitions.
The psychological factor cannot be underestimated, with Greece having won both recent encounters between these nations. Their 3-0 triumph at Hampden in March was particularly emphatic, finding themselves ahead after just 46 minutes and maintaining control throughout.
However, Scotland assistant coach Steven Naismith believes the squad dynamic is now at its strongest point, citing improved club form from key players like Scott McTominay at Napoli, Aaron Hickey’s return from injury at Brentford, and the leadership of John McGinn and Andy Robertson.
Scotland vs Greece Match Preview – Team News, Recent Form, H2H & Prediction
This crucial Group C encounter could determine which team maintains realistic hopes of automatic qualification, with both nations desperate to avoid falling further behind group leaders Denmark.
- Teams: Scotland vs Greece
- Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2025
- Time: 19:45 UK / 20:45 CEST
- Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers – UEFA Group C
Recent Form of Scotland and Greece
Scotland have shown remarkable defensive improvement under Clarke, keeping consecutive clean sheets against Denmark and Belarus. Their tactical discipline was particularly evident in Copenhagen, where they restricted the highly-rated Danish attack to just two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes
Greece’s form has been erratic, with their attacking capabilities evident in the Belarus rout, contrasting sharply with their toothless display against Denmark. The 5-1 victory showcased their potential, but the subsequent defeat exposed defensive vulnerabilities that Scotland will look to exploit.
- Scotland: W-D-W-L-L (Recent: Win vs Belarus 2-0, Draw vs Denmark 0-0, Win vs Liechtenstein 4-0, Loss vs Iceland 1-3, Loss vs Greece 0-3)
- Greece: L-W-W-W-W (Recent: Loss vs Denmark 0-3, Win vs Belarus 5-1, Win vs Bulgaria 4-0, Win vs Slovakia 4-1, Win vs Scotland 3-0)
Current FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying Group C Standings
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Denmark | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 4 |
| 2nd | Scotland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| 3rd | Greece | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 3 |
| 4th | Belarus | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0 |
Scotland vs Greece Head-to-Head Record
Greece holds a strong psychological edge, having triumphed in both recent competitive clashes, including a crushing 3-0 win at Hampden in March. The aggregate score of their Nations League playoff was 4-1 in Greece’s favor, although Scotland managed a 1-0 away win in the first leg.
| Statistic | Scotland | Greece | Recent Meetings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nations League 2025 | 1 | 1 | Greece 3-0 Scotland (Hampden) |
| World Cup Qualifiers | 0 | 0 | First meeting in this campaign |
Team News
- Scotland: Veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon has been recalled to the squad at age 42, though Angus Gunn is expected to retain his place after impressive displays. Aaron Hickey returns from a difficult injury period, while Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour continue their excellent partnership at Napoli. Missing: Zander Clark, Dominic Hyam, and Max Johnston through injury.
- Greece: Ivan Jovanović has named a strong 24-man squad featuring Premier League experience in Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham) and Kostas Tsimikas (Liverpool). Vangelis Pavlidis and Christos Tzolis lead the attack after their goals against Belarus. No major injury concerns reported ahead of this crucial qualifier.
Scotland vs Greece Possible Starting Lineups
Scotland Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Gunn; Hickey, Souttar, McKenna, Robertson; McTominay, Gilmour; Doak, McGinn, Christie; Adams.
Greece Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Tzolakis; Vagiannidis, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas; Kourbelis, Zafeiris; Karetsas, Bakasetas, Tzolis; Pavlidis.
Key Battles
- Scott McTominay vs Dimitrios Kourbelis: Midfield control and physicality will be crucial
- Che Adams vs Konstantinos Mavropanos: Scotland’s striker against Greece’s Premier League center-back
Tactical Overview
- Scotland: Defensive solidity, quick transitions, exploitation of wide areas through Robertson and Hickey
- Greece: Compact midfield, counter-attacking through the pace of Tzolis and creativity of Bakasetas
Scotland vs Greece Prediction
Scotland’s home advantage and improved squad dynamic give them the edge, though Greece’s recent victory at this venue cannot be ignored.
The hosts’ defensive improvements and attacking threat from set-pieces could prove decisive in what promises to be a tight encounter.
Predicted Score: Scotland 2-1 Greece
How to Watch Scotland vs Greece FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers
- UK: BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer
- Greece: ANT1, NOVA Sports
- International: Check local UEFA broadcast partners
- Radio: BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio nan Gàidheal