CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Scotland coach Steve Clarke is stepping down after the team was eliminated from the World Cup even though he signed a new four-year contract only a month before.
Clarke announced he was leaving in an emotional letter to Scotland's “Tartan Army” supporters shortly after Croatia's 2-1 win over Ghana on Saturday ensured Scotland could no longer qualify for the round of 32.
His seven years in charge saw Scotland reach its first World Cup since 1998 and qualify twice for the European Championship, having not done so since 1996.
Scotland's players “deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honor to be called their Gaffer (boss),” Clarke wrote. “Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor.”
Scotland played its last game Thursday in a 3-0 loss to Brazil but had to wait for days to see if it would end up as one of the third-place teams with the best records, and get a spot in the knockout stage.
Its opening 1-0 win over Haiti was Scotland's first victory at any men's World Cup since 1990, but that narrow margin of victory ended up hurting Clarke's team after its subsequent losses to Morocco and Brazil.
Goal difference was the tiebreaker among the third-place teams with three points and Scotland's minus-3 goal differential left it well adrift of Senegal, whose +2 goal differential saw it clinch the final spot among the eight qualified teams.
The contract Clarke signed at the end of May had seemed set to take him through to the 2030 World Cup, and his letter didn't explain why he'd seemingly changed his mind.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke reacts following the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Brazil in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Scotland national soccer team head coach Steve Clarke watches his players train on the eve of their Group C World Cup game against Brazil, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke reacts following the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Brazil in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s military said Sunday that three members of its paramilitary Rangers force were killed and four others wounded in fighting after militants launched an attack the previous night on a regional headquarters in the southern port city of Karachi.
A militant rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the provincial headquarters of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers in Karachi on Saturday night, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire with security forces, according to police and witnesses.
In a statement, the military said security forces had killed three attackers and captured a fourth, who was wounded. It identified the captured suspect as an Afghan national.
The military said operations were continuing in the area and warned that Pakistan would retaliate against those responsible for the assault. Pakistan has carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan in recent years, saying they targeted militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul has repeatedly denied allowing militant groups to use Afghan territory to launch cross-border attacks.
The militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed the attack shortly after it occurred.
The military described the group as an Indian proxy, but provided no evidence to support the allegation. There was no immediate comment from India, and New Delhi has denied similar allegations in recent years.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the three Rangers personnel “martyred” in the assault, expressed condolences to their families and wished the wounded a speedy recovery in a statement issued by his office. He also praised the sacrifices of Pakistan’s security forces in the fight against militancy and reaffirmed the nation’s resolve to eliminate terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack and praised security forces for repelling the assault.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks targeting police and security forces in recent years.
The military said operations were still underway to eliminate any remaining accomplices of the attackers.
Associated Press writer in Islamabad Munir Ahmed contributed to this story.
Rescue workers remove a body in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)
Paramilitary soldiers examine a damaged area after a militant attack at the provincial headquarters of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)
Paramilitary soldiers stand guard on a road cordoned off near the site of a militant attack at the provincial headquarters of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)
Paramilitary soldiers and police officers stand guard on a road cordoned off near the site of a militant attack at the provincial headquarters of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)
