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World Cup 2026 Group C Preview: Neymar’s Final Show and Steve Clarke’s Scotland Ready for Challenge
Deepa Krishnaswamy | June 2, 2026 10:33 PM CST

The World Cup is fast approaching. From June 11 to July 19, 48 nations will battle it out across the United States, Mexico, and Canada for football’s most prestigious prize – the title of World Champions.

The tournament draw has already produced 12 groups, and Group C looks particularly intriguing, featuring Brazil, Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti.

Here’s a detailed look at what to expect from each team in this group.

When it comes to World Cup heritage, Brazil stand alone. They are the only nation to have participated in every edition since the tournament’s inception in 1930.

With five World Cup titles, Brazil hold the record for the most championships and remain the only country whose fans expect victory every time the team steps onto the world stage.

However, their last triumph came in 2002. This time, they will be led by Carlo Ancelotti — the first-ever foreign coach to manage Brazil at a World Cup.

Player to watch: Neymar. This tournament marks his final campaign with the national side. Despite being Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, he has yet to lift the trophy. Currently recovering from injury, Neymar is expected to regain fitness in time to play a significant role throughout the competition.

Predicted stage of elimination: Semi-final

Scotland return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1998, marking their ninth appearance in the tournament. For a new generation of Scottish fans, this will be a long-awaited taste of the global spectacle.

Historically, Scotland have never progressed beyond the group stage. However, with eight third-placed teams advancing under the new format, they may fancy their chances this time around.

Player to watch: Scott McTominay. The midfielder, who scored a stunning overhead kick against Denmark in qualifying, has become one of the most consistent midfielders in world football since joining Napoli in 2024.

Predicted stage of elimination: Round of 16

Morocco enter their seventh World Cup appearance still buoyed by their historic run in Qatar 2022, where they became the first African and Arab nation ever to reach the semi-finals.

They will aim to build on that momentum as they prepare to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. The Atlas Lions are also the reigning AFCON champions, having defeated Senegal in a controversial final earlier this year.

Player to watch: Achraf Hakimi. The PSG right-back and three-time Champions League winner is widely regarded as the best in his position globally. His performance in this season’s UCL final against Arsenal — playing all 120 minutes and converting a crucial penalty — showcased his immense quality.

Predicted stage of elimination: Quarter-final

For Haiti, this World Cup marks only their second appearance, with their previous one coming in 1974. Though they exited in the group stage then, they will hope to make a stronger impression this time, despite being considered the underdogs of Group C.

Their qualification journey was extraordinary. Due to ongoing political unrest and safety concerns, Haiti have been unable to host home matches since 2021, playing their fixtures in Curacao instead.

Head coach Sébastien Migné has remarkably never set foot in Haiti since taking charge 18 months ago, overseeing the entire qualification campaign remotely via phone and video calls.

Player to watch: Duckens Nazon. The striker, who plays for Esteghlal in Iran, is Haiti’s all-time top scorer with 44 goals in 76 appearances. Having previously played for Scottish club St Mirren in 2019, he will be eager to make an impact against his former home country.

Predicted stage of elimination: Group stage


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