This is quite common when the World Cup window closes. Many teams and managers decide to open new horizons and change gears. After all, managing a national team goes in four-year processes in between World Cups. Hence, it’s a long commitment.

Some are not eager to compromise for another four years after a grueling World Cup qualifying process. Hence, it’s time to review which teams will be in search of a new manager by no choice of their own, but by their former managers.

Managers that have resigned after 2026 World Cup elimination

Steve Clarke stepped down as manager following Scotland’s exit. Despite signing a new four-year contract before the tournament, his seven-year reign ended after the team failed to advance to the knockout stage.

Hong Myung-bo announced his resignation following the South Korea’s elimination, stepping down amid heavy criticism of the team’s performance and failing to qualify to the Round of 32. Also, Miroslav Koubek resigned after a winless, last-place group stage exit by Czechia.

List of managers that quit after 2026 World Cup

• Steve Clarke – Scotland – 7 years in charge
• Hong Myung-Bo – South Korea – 2 years in charge
• Miroslav Koubek – Czechia – 7 months

The disappointing campaign immediately raised questions about Clarke’s future. Scotland had shown flashes of quality throughout the tournament, defeating Haiti before suffering defeats against Morocco and Brazil. However, the heavy loss to Brazil (3-0) ultimately proved too costly, leaving the Scots with an unfavorable goal difference that ended their World Cup dream despite remaining mathematically alive until the final day of the group stage.

With the tournament over, the Scottish Football Association officially confirmed a major change. However, contrary to what many supporters initially believed, Steve Clarke was not dismissed. Instead, both parties agreed to end their seven-year partnership, bringing to a close a managerial spell that transformed Scotland from a team absent from major tournaments into a regular international contender.

Did Scotland fire Steve Clarke?

No. The Scottish Football Association confirmed that Clarke stepped down from his position after seven years in charge rather than being dismissed. The federation announced:

“Scotland Men’s Head Coach Steve Clarke has stepped down from his role. Our most successful National Team Head Coach has called time on his seven years in charge following our participation at the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

The statement makes it clear that the departure was not a firing but the end of Clarke’s tenure by mutual agreement. The coach believed it was the perfect time to close this chapter.

Why is Steve Clarke leaving Scotland?

Scotland entered the World Cup with high expectations after qualifying for the tournament for the first time since 1998. The campaign started positively with a victory over Haiti, but losing to Morocco and Brazil ultimately proved decisive as they couldn’t reach the knockout stages.

Although Scotland finished with three points, the team’s goal difference left it short of advancing as one of the eight best third-place teams. Following that disappointing elimination, both Clarke and the Scottish FA agreed it was the right moment to begin a new era.

Steve Clarke’s legacy with Scotland

Despite the difficult ending, Steve Clarke leaves behind one of the most successful periods in modern Scottish soccer. Appointed in 2019, he guided Scotland back to major tournaments by ending a 23-year drought with qualification for Euro 2020.

He later led the team to Euro 2024 and delivered Scotland’s first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1998 by qualifying for the 2026 tournament. Those accomplishments make Clarke one of the most influential coaches in the history of the Scotland national team, even if his tenure ended on a disappointing note at the World Cup.

However, everything changed in Miami, where Scotland suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat against Brazil. That result left Scotland in third place in Group C with three points and a goal difference of -3.

While Steve Clarke’s side has officially secured third place in the group, the heavy loss to Brazil severely damaged the chances of advancing as one of the tournament’s best third-place teams. The situation is now extremely difficult.

What do Scotland need to qualify in 2026 World Cup?

Scotland already know that two third-place teams will finish ahead of them regardless of what happens elsewhere. The third-place team in Group A, South Korea, and the third-place team in Group B, Bosnia and Herzegovina, are guaranteed to finish above Scotland in the third-place rankings. It’s important to remember that the eight best third-place teams advance to the Round of 32.

That means Scotland must now hope that enough other third-place teams finish below them. As a consequence, the Scots need at least four of the following group scenarios to happen:

In Group D, Australia must win over Paraguay by at least two goals. In Group E, Germany cannot lose against Ecuador, and Curacao have to tie or lose with Ivory Coast.

In Group F, Japan have to win against Sweden by four goals. In Group G, Egypt must beat Iran, and Belgium cannot lose against New Zealand. In Group H, Spain have to beat Uruguay at Guadalajara.

In Group I, Senegal cannot win against Iraq. In Group J, Austria have to win over Algeria by at least two goals. In Group K, DR Congo cannot win against Uzbekistan. In Group L, Ghana must get a victory over Luka Modric and Croatia by at least three goals.

Can Scotland still qualify in 2026 World Cup?

Yes, but the odds are not in their favor. Unlike some teams that still control their destiny on the final matchday, Scotland have already completed the group-stage schedule and can only wait for results elsewhere.

The combination of having only three points and a goal difference of -3 means the Scots need several favorable outcomes across multiple groups. Their hopes are still alive, but Scotland will be watching scoreboards and hoping enough results break their way to sneak into the Round of 32.

Brazil secured the victory with a dominant performance led by Vinícius Júnior, who capitalized on a costly mistake by Scott McKenna to open the scoring in the seventh minute. The Real Madrid star struck again in first-half stoppage time, heading home his second goal of the match before Matheus Cunha added a third in the 60th minute following a well-worked team move.

The win guarantees Brazil first place in Group C with seven points from two victories and one draw. Scotland, meanwhile, remain on three points and must now rely on results elsewhere as the race for the best third-placed spots.

Why are Scotland still alive in the tournament?

Despite the heavy defeat, Scotland’s World Cup hopes aren’t over. The expanded 48-team format allows the eight best third-placed teams to advance to the Round of 32, meaning the Scots remain in contention despite finishing behind Brazil and Morocco in Group C.

However, their chances are far from secure. With only three points and a negative goal difference, their qualification fate will not be decided until all group-stage matches have been completed.

What do Brazil’s victory mean for Group C

Brazil’s win confirmed the Seleção as Group C winners after an impressive recovery from their opening 1-1 draw against Morocco. Carlo Ancelotti‘s squad finished the group stage unbeaten and enter the knockout rounds with growing momentum.

Whether it took a commanding win in Magic City or a nerve-racking showdown in the “City in a Forest,” both Brazil and Morocco have punched their tickets to the round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup. However, the Verde Amarela had the last laugh, as they won Group C, while the Atlas Lions finished in second place.

As for Scotland, their fate is now off their hands. Scotland knew this could happen with a loss or tie against Brazil, and the blowout defeat did them no favors. Scotland finished third in Group C and will need some help to rank among the best third-place teams in the 2026 World Cup. Whether Scotland have been eliminated or not will remain uncertain until every group is decided.

Group C final matchday scores

Brazil made light work of Scotland, dismantling the Scots under the watchful eyes of the Tartan Army, and handing them a 3-0 loss that may well be all she wrote for Scotland. For the time being, Scotland aren’t out of the 2026 World Cup, but they might be in need of an early Christmas miracle. Meanwhile, Brazil are off to face Group F’s runner up next in the round of 32, as they are Group C’s winners.

In the state of Georgia, Haiti shocked the world for a few minutes, but eventually couldn’t keep up with the Atlas Lions. Morocco found the late winner and walked away with a 4-2 victory to punch their ticket to the round of 32.

While grateful for reaching another knockout stage in a World Cup, Morocco have much to improve, as one of the tournament’s weakest teams pinned them against the wall.

Brazil and Morocco await rival

Having confirmed Brazil will act as Group C’s winners and Morocco are the runners-up, all that remains to be decided is whom the Verde Amarela and Atlas Lions will face next. Brazil will go up against Group F’s runners-up, and Morocco will face that group’s winners.

However, it could be any team. Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden can all still finish atop their group, so only time will tell who finishes first and faces Morocco, and who ends up second and takes on Brazil.

2026 World Cup Group C final standings

While neither Scotland nor Brazil had put on a masterclass up to that point, the breakthrough goal completely shifted the momentum for La Selecao. With the breakthrough, the South American giants climb to the top of the Group C standings, leapfrogging Morocco as they play out their concurrent matchup against Haiti.

The strike marks Vinicius Jr.’s third goal of the 2026 World Cup, a stellar sign for a Brazilian squad that is now on the precipice of locking down a spot in the knockout stage.

Anticipation is building to see how the rest of the match unfolds, particularly with Neymar starting on the bench but remaining available as a substitute. If head coach Carlo Ancelotti calls his number, the veteran superstar has the undeniable quality to act as the ultimate closer and seal the victory.

Vini has been the most decisive player for Brazil

With this third goal in the 2026 World Cup, Vinicius keeps establishing himself as the most important player in the tournament. He has created plenty of great chances for Brazil, and with it, the team has been undefeated.

As the Brazilian supporters are waiting to watch Neymar on the field after four years without seen him, Vinicius Jr. has taken seriously the leadership of a team that want to be a World Champion after 24 years.

Brazil are just waiting for the final result of this game, in order to meet their rivals in the Round of 32, depending on the standings, as they are not depending on themselves at this point to lead the group.

The Brazilian squad want a convincing win to secure first place of the group, while the Scots need just a point to to finally have a chance to advance to the knockout stages.

With qualification and group positioning on the line, FIFA has appointed an experienced officiating crew led by one of the most recognizable referees from North America.

Who is the referee for Brazil vs Scotland?

The referee for Brazil vs Scotland is Cesar Ramos of Mexico. Ramos is one of CONCACAF’s most experienced officials and has previously officiated matches at both the FIFA World Cup and other major international competitions.

Given the importance of the match, FIFA’s decision to assign Ramos reflects the confidence the organization has in the Mexican referee’s ability to manage high-pressure encounters.

The rest of the officiating team for the match. Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin (Mexico) Assistant Referee 2: Marco Bisguerra (Mexico) Fourth Official: Espen Eskas (Norway) Reserve Assistant Referee: Jan Erik Engan (Norway). Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Guillermo Pacheco (Mexico).

Brazil and Scotland arrive at their fifth meeting ever in a FIFA World Cup with four and three points, respectively, in Group C of the 2026 World Cup. So far, the Verde Amarela are undefeated. Both in this year’s World Cup and against the Scots in soccer’s biggest tournament. Although their last duel was in the 1998 World Cup, Brazil have won three times, and the remaining game ended in a draw.

There’s no way around it: Scotland have no room for error. A win over Brazil punches Scotland’s ticket to the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. As for Brazil, a loss is the only result that could put them in trouble. And even then, it might not be enough to eliminate them. Needless to say, this group isn’t for the faint of heart.

What happens if Brazil beat Scotland today?

Brazil will punch their ticket to the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup with a win over Scotland. The only thing left to be determined is whether they win the group or come out as runner-ups. That will have a massive impact on whom Brazil will take on in the knockout stage. This will depend on how Morocco fare against Haiti.

If both Brazil and Morocco win, they will finish tied at seven points. Because they tied their opening game, the 2026 World Cup tiebreaking rules and criterion will be applied to determine who win Group C. Goal difference is the first criteria to be used between Brazil and Morocco so both will look to defeat Scotland and Haiti by a wide margin. Entering the final matchday, Brazil have a +3 goal difference, whereas Morocco a minimum +1.

As for Scotland, a loss against Brazil would leave them at third place (regardless of how Morocco do against Haiti). With only three points and a negative goal difference, Scotland may not rank among the eight best third-place teams and could be eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.

What happens if Brazil and Scotland tie today?

If the game between Brazil and Scotland at Miami Stadium ends in a stalemate, all eyes will turn to Morocco vs. Haiti. If Haiti either win or tie against Morocco, then a draw would be enough for Brazil to finish first in Group C.

However, if Morocco win while Brazil come away with only one point, the Atlas Lions will be the Group C winners. Still, Brazil will advance to the round of 32 with a draw.

Scotland, on the other hand, will finish third in Group C but with a stronger case to make the round of 32. The consensus around the 2026 World Cup is that four points should be more than enough for a third-place team to advance to the round of 32. However, anything can happen, and Scotland’s fate would come down to the rest of the tournament. The Scots would rather be safe than sorry, and thus the simplest way for them to advance is by defeating Brazil.

What happens if Brazil lose to Scotland today?

This would be the worst-case scenario for Brazil and the best-case scenario for Scotland. Still, it may not be disastrous for the Verde Amarela. A loss against Scotland means Brazil will most likely finish third in Group C, unless Haiti defeat Morocco and Brazil finish with a better goal difference than their African counterparts.

Regardless, Brazil could rank among the eight best third-place teams with four points in the group stage, so even a loss may not be enough to eliminate Brazil from the 2026 World Cup. Since the World Cup expanded beyond 20 teams, Brazil have never been eliminated in the group stage, and it seems 2026 won’t be the exception.

From the Scottish perspective, a win would secure Scotland’s place in the round of 32. If Morocco fail to defeat Haiti (i.e. tie or lose), Scotland will win Group C. Whoever wins Group C will take on Group F’s runners-up at Houston Stadium. The runners-up, on the other hand, will face Group F’s winners at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico.

2026 World Cup Group C table before Matchday 3

The Barcelona winger had been one of the team’s most important attacking players and his absence represents a significant setback for the Carlo Ancelotti’s squad as they look to secure a place in the Round of 32.

Despite the disappointing news, the player has already assured supporters that his focus is on returning before the knockout rounds. There’s still hope for Raphinha.

Why isn’t Raphinha playing for Brazil vs Scotland?

Raphinha is unavailable because of a muscle injury suffered during Brazil’s Group C match against Haiti. The issue forced the coaching staff to remove him from action and subsequently ruled him out for the match against Scotland.

What injury does Raphinha have?

The Brazilian forward suffered a muscular injury in the hamstring of his right leg. Hamstring injuries are particularly challenging for attacking players because they affect acceleration, sprinting, and sudden changes of direction. For that reason, Brazil’s medical staff has opted for caution rather than risking a more serious setback. The priority is ensuring that Raphinha is fully fit before returning to competitive action.

What did Raphinha say about his injury?

Following the diagnosis, Raphinha shared a message with supporters on social media, expressing his determination to recover and help Brazil later in the tournament.

“Those who know me know how much I push myself and how hard I work every day to improve. And that will never change. I will do everything in my power to recover and return as soon as possible. I want to be alongside my teammates, fight for our goals, and continue giving everything I have to honor this jersey and bring joy to Brazilian fans. I’m staying strong.”

Could Raphinha return for the knockout stages with Brazil?

That is currently the objective. While Brazil will have to cope without him against Scotland, early indications suggest that Raphinha has not given up on playing again in the tournament. The winger is targeting a return during the knockout rounds if his recovery progresses as expected.

Brazil’s current FIFA ranking has many believing A Seleção will navigate this fixture without much trouble. However, it remains absolutely critical for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to secure the victory to officially lock down their spot in the Round of 32.

With the venue logistics and a massive expected attendance already locked in for this Brazil vs Scotland clash, both teams are fully primed for an intensely physical match. Here is a look at how both nations are going to take the pitch today.

Brazil’s confirmed starting XI to face Scotland

With Raphinha sidelined due to an injury suffered against Haiti, Carlo Ancelotti will have to rely on his squad depth to fill the void on the wing. While Neymar is fit and available to play, he will start from the bench, expecting to have some activity if the game allows it.

Brazil’s confirmed starting XI: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta; Rayan, Vinicius Jr., Matheus Cunha.

Scotland’s confirmed lineup to face Brazil

After defeating Haiti but falling to Morocco, Scotland still mathematically has a chance to advance—potentially even as the Group C leader. To pull off that top-spot miracle, the Tartan Army would need to defeat Brazil and hope Haiti manages to hold Morocco to a draw or pull off an upset victory.

Scotland’s confirmed starting XI: Angus Gunn; Andy Robertson, Nathan Patterson, Scott McKenna, Jack Hendry; Scott McTominay, Jhon McGinn, Lewis Ferguson, Kenny McLean; Ben Gannon-Doak, and Lawrence Shankland.

Scotland currently sit at No. 40 in the FIFA rankings. Curiously enough, they are in the same spot they held entering the 2026 World Cup. Perhaps the Tartan Army’s support hasn’t been enough for Steve Clarke’s side to climb the rankings.

Scotland temporarily held the No. 37 spot after their win over Haiti in their 2026 World Cup debut and first World Cup game since 1998. However, the deflating loss at the hands of Morocco caused Scotland to slide back down to No. 40.

As they go up against the nation with the most World Cup titles, the Scots won’t care as much about the rankings as they will about making it out of Group C. Scotland are well aware of what will happen if they win, tie, or lose against Brazil, and their dream comes down to the showdown in Miami.

Scotland’s FIFA ranking history

Although Scotland would like to be higher in the rankings, they are grateful for the place they currently hold. Scotland’s national team has seen some lows, and the fact they are in the top 50 and playing in a FIFA World Cup is something that not many Scottish international players have ever had the chance to experience.

Scotland’s worst rank in FIFA rankings of all time came back in 2005, when they temporarily stood at No. 88. As for their worst year-end ranking, the Scots finished 2012 ranked 72nd in the world.

Looking on the brighter side of things, Scotland have seen their fair share of highs in the FIFA World Rankings. They were the 13th-best national team in the world at one point in 2007, and they ended that year at No. 14. Asking for Clarke’s squad to reach such heights this year may feel unrealistic, but a win over Brazil to clinch a spot in the knockout stage might be a good start.

Scotland are below Wales

Still, all Scotland would like is to move up a couple of spots. As things stand, they are trailing Wales and Hungary (No. 38 and 39, respectively), two sides that failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

That also goes to show that the FIFA rankings aren’t the bible when it comes to determining which teams are better. They have their own flaws. And the fact that Scotland are behind eight non-World Cup sides paints a good picture of that.