Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

How Scotland could make it into Pot 2 for World Cup qualifiers

After Scotland's late heroics in Warsaw last night, attention has now turned to World Cup qualifying, which will be the next focus for Steve Clarke and his players.

Andy Robertson popped up with a bullet header to score in the second minute of stoppage time to sink Poland on Monday evening.

That result lifted Scotland to safety in Nations League A1 - for now - while the Poles were automatically relegated to League B.

Scotland will face a promotion/relegation play-off against one of the four runners-up in League B in March.

The result left Scotland with the potential of an improved position for World Cup qualifying, although, it's very much out of their hands.

Here's everything you need to know about what Pot Scotland will be in for World Cup qualifying, and what needs to play out for that to change...

What Pot are Scotland in for World Cup qualifying as things stand?

For now, Scotland will be in Pot 3 for the World Cup qualifying draw.

This will take place on Friday, December 13.

Can Scotland's Pot change before the draw for World Cup qualifying? 

Yes, thankfully it can. 

However, it's totally out of Scotland's hands. 

If either the Czech Republic or Slovakia - who face Georgia and Estonia respectively - fail to win TONIGHT (Tuesday, November 19), then Scotland will be bumped up to Pot 2 for the World Cup qualification process.


Read more: 


What could all of this mean for Scotland's World Cup qualification hopes?

Naturally, the higher a nation's ranking, the better chance it has of qualifying. 

That's because they will be among some of the better countries, and so will avoid them in the draw.

So, it can only be a good thing if Scotland moves into Pot 2 rather than remaining in Pot 3.

And if it is to be Pot 2, then it means Scotland will have a greater chance of facing England in the qualification group of 5.

That's because they will avoid the UEFA Nations League quarter-finalists from Pot 1, which leaves England and Switzerland as the only options from this section.

If it's Pot 3, then Scotland will likely be in a group of four, and WILL be drawn against one of the UNL quarter-finalists. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.