Tartan Army face World Cup travel chaos as Scotland away days up in the air with one a no go zone

Scotland will face either Denmark or Portugal, Greece and Belarus for a place at the World Cup in 2026.

After almost three decades of hurt, Steve Clarke's men have it all to do to book their place on a flight to Canada, Mexico or the USA in 18 months, but members of the Tartan Army already looking to sort their travel to the crunch qualifying clashes face challenges of their own - with none of the away venues yet set in stone. Fans will have to wait until March to know whether it will be Denmark of Portugal who complete the group, with the losing side in a two-legged Nations League showdown joining the group - and the winner joining Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, Armenia in group F.

However, the two other away trips also pose travelling fans an issue. Due to their support of Russia in its war with Ukraine, Belarus are banned from playing games at home by governing body UEFA. That goes for both club and national sides - and saw Hearts' victory against Dinamo Minsk in the Conference League earlier this season held in Azerbaijan, with the national side playing their most recent matches in Hungary. Greece meanwhile is a less complex story, games should be played at the newly built Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens - but their Nations League matches have been played on the opposite side of the city.

Here's what we know so far.

Confirmed fixture dates and kick-off times are still to be announced, but what we do know is that the group stages will begin during the international break between September 4-9 next year, with further international breaks between October 9-14 and November 13-18, 2025. Play-off matches for the second place teams will then take place between March 26-31 2026.

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