2026 World Cup: Instant classic goals send wild and weird Scotland through after 28-year wait

Scotland is finally going back to the World Cup following a 28-year wait after a wild win capped a truly weird qualifying campaign.

The Tartan Army of kilt-clad fans are now making plans for a midsummer trip to the United States, Canada and Mexico thanks to a victory in 90-plus minutes in Glasgow Tuesday that summed up their rarely glorious and mostly agonizing World Cup history.

Three instant classic goals — two of them in stoppage time, one from the halfway line – sent Scotland to an improbable 4-2 win over favored Denmark at raucous Hampden Park.

The standings in the four-team group show Scotland top by two points clear of Denmark and heading to a first World Cup since 1998.

What the table does not say is how the Scots were totally outplayed in much of each home win against Greece, Belarus and a Denmark team that still looked far superior playing the last half hour with 10 players.

“I thought we were pretty rubbish to be honest, but who cares?” midfielder John McGinn quipped in a post-game interview with the BBC.

Scotland only had a chance to advance Tuesday despite losing another strange game in Greece three days earlier. Denmark, which now faces the jeopardy of European playoffs in March, left the door open to the Scots because lowly Belarus somehow got a 2-2 draw Saturday in Copenhagen.

“We’ve had a lot of trauma as a Scotland team, a lot of hits," the 31-year-old McGinn said, "but tonight to get over the line was such an amazing feeling.”

The emotion was raw for captain Andy Robertson, who later revealed he spent part of Tuesday in tears in his hotel room thinking of his long-time Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car crash in July.

Scotland’s undisputed greatest goal had been Archie Gemmill’s solo dribble and strike against the Netherlands at the 1978 World Cup — a 3-2 win that was not enough to advance and is a symbol of the nation’s heroic soccer failures.

It was immortalized in a racy scene by celebrated actors Ewan McGregor and Kelly Macdonald in the signature Scottish movie “Trainspotting.”

It has competition now.

An acrobatic bicycle kick by Scott McTominay, hanging in the air to stretch out a telescopic right leg, put Scotland ahead in the third minute.

At 2-2 in stoppage time, substitute defender Kieran Tierney hit a sweet first-timer that spun and curled into the net from 25 meters.

“I will never, ever feel like that on a football park again,” said McGinn, who acknowledged he began thinking with dread about the playoffs just two minutes before Tierney's shot.

The fourth goal came from more than 50 meters, inside Scotland’s half of the field, with the last kick of the game, Kenny McLean lofting the ball over goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel into an empty net.

Robertson had a close relationship with the late Portugal forward Jota.

“I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today,” the 31-year-old told the BBC. "Today I’ve been in bits. I know that the age I’m at, this could be my last chance to go to the World Cup.

“We spoke so much together about the World Cup. He missed out on Qatar (at the 2022 World Cup) because of injury. I missed out because Scotland never went.”

“We always discussed what it would be like, going to this World Cup. I know he’ll be somewhere smiling over me tonight."

Scotland’s goalkeepers since September were two men who have not had a single minute of game time for their clubs this season.

And one of them turns 43 next month.

Craig Gordon is now the back-up at Scottish league leader Hearts. He was needed by coach Steve Clarke to play his 83rd national-team game Tuesday because of injury to Angus Gunn, who is third-choice at Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League.

Gordon was error-free against Denmark after making key saves Saturday in a 3-2 loss against Greece that threatened to be a blowout before Scotland’s second-half rally.

He might well be the oldest of any among the 1,248 players due to be selected for the 48 World Cup rosters in June.

On Dec. 5 in Washington DC, Scotland will learn its three opponents in the group stage — aiming to advance to the next phase at a World Cup for the first time at the eighth attempt.

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Scotland's Kenny McLean celebrates scoring their fourth goal in the 2026 World Cup European Qualifying soccer match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Scotland's Kieran Tierney, rear center, scores their side's third goal of the game during the 2026 World Cup European Qualifying soccer match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Scotland's Scott McTominay scores the opening goal during the 2026 World Cup European Qualifying soccer match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

Scotland's John McGinn, left, and Kenny McLean celebrate qualifying after defeating Denmark in a 2026 World Cup European Qualifying soccer match in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Scotland's Scott McTominay celebrates with teammates after Kenny McLean scored their fourth goal in the 2026 World Cup European Qualifying soccer match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. military leaders said Tuesday that a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect a day after Tehran was blamed for new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against the United Arab Emirates.

The fragile truce, reached nearly a month ago, appeared to be holding as U.S. forces pressed ahead with efforts to reopen the vital waterway for global energy. On Monday, the U.S. said it sank six small Iranian boats that had threatened commercial ships.

So far, only two merchant ships are known to have passed through a new U.S.-guarded route, with hundreds more bottled up in the Persian Gulf. It's unclear whether continued U.S. military action will reassure shippers without reigniting the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

The UAE, a key American ally, said it came under attack by Iranian missiles and drones for a second straight day on Tuesday. At least three people were wounded in attacks the day before, and a drone sparked a fire at a key oil facility in the eastern emirate of Fujairah.

Iran’s effective closure of the strait, through which major oil and gas supplies passed before the war, along with fertilizer and other petroleum-derived products, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing and rattled the global economy. Breaking Iran's grip would deny its main source of leverage as U.S. President Donald Trump demands a major rollback of its disputed nuclear program.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the U.S. military’s top officer, told a news conference Tuesday that Iran’s renewed aggression hadn’t reached the threshold of what Caine called “major combat operations.” He said Tuesday marked a “quieter” day in the strait.

“No, the ceasefire is not over,” Hegseth said, affirming Caine’s assessment. They spoke before the latest attacks on the UAE.

Iran has said the new effort does violate the ceasefire. Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, accused the U.S. of undermining regional security. In a post on X, he signaled that Iran has yet to fully respond to the U.S. attempt to reopen the waterway.

“We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet,” he said. His statement did not mention negotiations with the U.S. that are now in the form of passing messages via Pakistan.

Disputing Washington’s claim of sinking six boats, an Iranian military commander said two small civilian cargo boats were hit on Monday, killing five civilians, Iran’s state TV reported.

Caine, the top U.S. general who serves as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 100 U.S. military aircraft are patrolling skies around the strait.

“Since the ceasefire was announced, Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships, and they’ve attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times – all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point,” Caine said.

The administration has cited the April 8 ceasefire in asserting that the president does not have to give a formal update to Congress on the war under the War Powers Resolution. That law typically requires presidents to seek formal approval from Congress for war activities 60 days after beginning military action.

So far, just two civilian vessels, both U.S.-flagged merchant ships, are known to have passed through the strait as part of the lane the U.S. says it has created.

“At this point in time our risk assessment remains unchanged,” Hamburg, Germany-based shipping company Hapag-Lloyd AG said in a statement. “Transits through the Strait of Hormuz are for the moment not possible for our ships.”

Ship tracking data showed a Panamanian-flagged crude oil tanker heading toward the center of the strait Tuesday after leaving an anchorage in the Persian Gulf, though it was unclear if it would try to pass through. The tanker had a stated destination of Singapore, according to the MarineTraffic ship tracking site.

Iran has attacked ships that try to transit without going through its own route in the northern part of the narrow strait near the Iranian coastline. That involves going through vetting by Iran's Revolutionary Guard and payment in some cases.

The U.S.-approved “Project Freedom” route goes through territorial waters of Oman to the south.

“For shipping companies and for insurance companies, they still have to wait and see how this plays out,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

“This initiative alone isn’t something that looks like it’s going to open the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defenses had engaged 15 missiles and four drones fired by Iran. Authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah said one drone sparked a fire at a key oil facility, wounding three Indian nationals. The British military reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE, also on Monday.

On Tuesday, the UAE's Defense Ministry said air defenses were responding to another Iranian drone and missile attack.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condemned the attacks, calling the targeting of civilians and infrastructure “unacceptable.” On X, Modi said India stands in “firm solidarity” with the UAE, and stressed the need for safe and uninterrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran did not confirm or deny the attacks but Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi early Tuesday said on X that both the U.S. and the UAE “should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire.”

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia condemned the strikes against the UAE. The Saudi condemnation came despite increasingly strained relations with the UAE.

The disruption of the waterway has squeezed countries in Europe and Asia that depend on Persian Gulf oil and gas, raising prices far beyond the region.

The U.S. meanwhile has enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports since April 13, telling at least 49 commercial ships to turn back, according to its Central Command. It also has warned shipping companies they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for transit of the strait.

The blockade has deprived Tehran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy. U.S. officials have expressed hope the blockade will force Iran to make concessions in talks on its nuclear program and other longstanding issues.

Finley reported from Washington and Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece. Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut, Lebanon; Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi; Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina; Bill Barrow in Atlanta; and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed to this report.

Pro-government demonstrators chant slogans as one of them holds a poster of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei during their gathering at Enqelab-e-Eslami, or Islamic Revolution, square in Tehran, Iran, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Israeli soldiers drive a tank inside a village in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

An Iranian demonstrator waves a flag of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group under an anti-U.S. billboard depicting the American aircrafts into the Iranian armed forces fishing net with signs that read in Farsi: "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed, The entire Persian Gulf is our hunting ground," during a pro-government gathering at Enqelab-e-Eslami, or Islamic Revolution, square in Tehran, Iran, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A bulk cargo ship sits at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Saturday, May 2, 2026.(Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)