Scotland captain Robertson fulfills dream of facing Brazil in the 2026 World Cup
The captain of the Scottish national team, Andrew Robertson, expresses great satisfaction with his country’s participation in the World Cup. The player emphasizes the importance of seeing future generations supporting the team in major competitions, a landmark moment for the nation’s football.
The Scottish defender addresses the challenges that marked his professional career, as well as detailing Scotland’s expectations for the next World Cup. Among the plans, the anxiety for the long-awaited clash against the Brazilian team stands out.
Andy Robertson’s remarkable journey, which took him from amateur football to the elite international stage, is often described as a true tale of resilience. The athlete, born in Glasgow, progressed through clubs such as Queen’s Park, Dundee United and Hull City, until reaching the renowned Liverpool.
For almost a decade, Robertson shone brightly on the biggest stages of world club football, lifting important trophies both nationally and in Europe with the Reds. However, his career still lacked a significant achievement: defending his nation in a FIFA World Cup™. Robertson, who will join Tottenham Hotspur on July 1 free of charge, will get that chance when he leads Scotland into the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, hosted in North America.
Robertson also led the Scottish squad at UEFA EURO 2024 and considers the World Cup the culmination of a journey built with great commitment and many sacrifices.
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“In moments like this, I see it as crucial to remember my origins, the journey I’ve taken and the effort I’ve dedicated to getting to where I am,” Robertson told FIFA. “I love my journey. I love every stage I’ve experienced. It took a lot of hard work and sacrifices. But for the achievements I achieved, it was worth every moment.”
“I never imagined that one day I would be captain of the national team. As a child, my greatest desire was, of course, to play for my country.”
The Scot’s career almost ended in his teens; At the age of 15, Robertson was released by Celtic, his boyhood team. The reason was considered his low physical stature to be successful in the sport.
“Becoming a professional football player is not a simple task”, explained the athlete. “If I look at any locker room I’ve been to, there have always been difficult moments in every player’s journey. I think that’s what makes us resilient.”
“That was a defining moment for me, obviously because I faced rejection for the first time, the sadness and everything that accompanies this situation. However, it was also because I managed to overcome it and fight to turn it around.”
“That experience prepared me very well for my career, as there will always be adversities along the way, and it all comes down to how you face them.”
Scotland aims for unprecedented achievements and dreams of the round of 16 at the World Cup
When Robertson takes to the field against Haiti on June 13, the date will mark Scotland’s long-awaited return to international football’s biggest stage after a 28-year hiatus. Their place in the World Cup was secured with an electrifying 4-2 victory over Denmark at Hampden Park the previous November.
The team led by Steve Clarke will also face Morocco in Group C, before the final clash against Brazil, who hold the fifth world championship. The last time the Scots faced the Seleção was in the opening of the 1998 tournament, at the Stade de France, where they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat.
Robertson maintains that Scotland’s current generation will not be deterred by past results when facing Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded team in Miami.
Brazil x Scotland | Group A | FIFA World Cup France 1998™ | Best Moments
See the best moments of the match between Brazil and Scotland, played at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, on Wednesday, June 10, 1998.
“I believe that we are always the ones trying to build our own history”, continued the player. “We greatly value the history of the Scottish national team. We have great appreciation for the figures of the past. We respect their legacy very much. But I understand that it is up to us to create our own trajectory. I don’t think that previous results against Brazil or past games will have any influence on this match.”
“However, we are aware of the enormous difficulty it will be. Facing Brazil is a real dream for any player, and it is not always an opportunity when you come from a different continent, but the World Cup makes it possible. We are always ready to compete and we hope to be able to surprise them.”
Scotland aims to make history once again by competing in the tournament in North America, dreaming of getting past the group stage at the ninth attempt. Robertson says confidence within the Scotland squad that this achievement can finally come to fruition is quite high.
“We know, obviously, that no Scottish team has made it past the group stage,” he highlighted. “I consider this an achievable goal for us. We know we are in a challenging group. We know we will face very qualified teams. However, we also believe we are a good team when we are on an inspired day.”
“If we achieve this feat [reaching the round of 16], then we will make history, as it is already a historic milestone to qualify for three of the last four major tournaments. We can remember all the games we played. If we can advance from the group stage and become the first team to achieve this, then I believe that should be our focus.”
