2026 FIFA World Cup — Group C, Matchday 2 | June 20 | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — In the 67th minute, Andy Robertson picked up the ball on the left flank. He looked up once. He crossed.

The ball arced over the Moroccan defence, dropping towards the far post. John McGinn was waiting.

He did not take a touch. He struck the ball on the volley, and it flew like a cannonball into the net. Yassine Bounou dived. He had no chance.

1-0.

McGinn ran to the Scottish supporters, arms spread wide. Behind him, the blue-and-white flags rippled in the Philadelphia night. In front of him, thousands of Scots who had waited 28 years for this moment.

Scotland’s last World Cup victory was in 1998. McGinn was four years old. Robertson had not been born. Most of this Scotland squad had not been born. Now, they had won.

Scotland: Not Possession — Grit

Scotland had 38% possession. They completed fewer than 300 passes. They had seven shots, two on target. By any conventional statistical measure, they should not have won this match.

But football is not played on spreadsheets.

Every Scottish tackle was a battle. McGinn covered every blade of grass in midfield. Robertson ran tirelessly down the left. Kieran Tierney plugged every gap in defence. They did not win with technique. They won with will.

Morocco had 62% possession, over 500 passes, 14 shots. But only three were on target. Scotland’s defence — marshalled by Tierney and Jack Hendry — blocked everything. Craig Gordon made only two saves, but each was as steady as stone.

Morocco: Possession, Passes, Then What?

Morocco played a statistically dominant match. Sixty-two percent possession. Eighty-nine percent pass completion. Fourteen shots. But if you watched the game, you would not think they deserved to win.

Their attack lacked penetration. Achraf Hakimi’s crosses from the right were cleared time and again. Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick sailed over the bar. Youssef En-Nesyri was isolated in the box, barely receiving a threatening pass.

Morocco lost their opener to Brazil. Now they have lost to Scotland. Two matches, zero points. Their qualification hopes are all but extinguished. For a team that reached the semi-finals in 2022, this is a brutal fall.

Group C Standings

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Brazil 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4 6
2 Scotland 2 1 0 1 1 2 -1 3
3 Morocco 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0
4 Haiti 2 0 0 2 0 4 -4 0

Match Details:

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