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Scotland have never progressed beyond the group stage of a major international tournament — but could 2026 finally be the year they make it to the knockouts?

According to former Scotland international and Champions League winner Paul Lambert, a winning start will be absolutely crucial if the team hopes to break that long-standing barrier.

Scotland begin their 2026 World Cup journey on June 13, when they face bottom seeds Haiti, who are making only their second-ever appearance at the tournament, their first being back in 1974.

Next up for Steve Clarke’s side are 2022 semi-finalists Morocco, with that clash in Group C scheduled for the evening of June 19. Scotland will then round off their group fixtures against Brazil on June 24.

Interestingly, this group setup has drawn comparisons to Scotland’s 1998 World Cup campaign, their last appearance at the global showpiece, where they also faced Brazil and Morocco.

Lambert was part of that 1998 squad and played every minute as Scotland narrowly lost to Brazil, drew against Norway, and saw their hopes end with a 3-0 defeat to Morocco in their final group game.

Speaking to Betway, Lambert explained, “The first game is pivotal. We have to win that and get off to a good start.”

He added, “That gives you a lot of foothold in the group. Brazil and Morocco play each other in their first game, so something’s got to give.”

Lambert continued, “But Morocco, as everybody saw in the last World Cup, are a strong team. Even when we played them in ’98, they deserved to beat us — we just didn’t perform.”

He then reflected on Brazil’s current status, saying, “But is the Brazilian team what it was in 1998? No, it’s nowhere near that level.”

Looking ahead, Lambert noted, “If we can get a result in our first game, that gives us a solid base going into the Morocco match — but it all depends on the group dynamics because the format is different now from when I played at the World Cup.”

“Three points might be enough, but you just can’t be sure. What’s certain is that we absolutely need to win that opening game.”

From the sounds of it, Lambert’s message couldn’t be clearer — Scotland’s hopes hinge heavily on that first result.