Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterScotland are back at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years this summer, meaning a whole generation of both fans and players will get their first taste of the games biggest tournament.An unforgettable qualification campaign that climaxed with the dramatic win over Denmark last year has given hope among supporters that Scotland can more than make up the numbers.Tasked with leading the squad in North America is skipper Andy Robertson, a player who has won almost everything at club level and now finally gets the chance to tick off another career goal. You may like EXCLUSIVE Andy Robertson: Scotland's success 'starts and ends with the manager' When we qualified for the World Cup, there was a part of me that felt Diogo Jota was looking over us Andy Robertson on the World Cup bond he formed with his tragic former Liverpool team-mate 'I was there in 1982 against that unbelievable Brazil side. I was on the pitch and saw them up close - but I dont think I played!' Gordon Strachan recalls Scotland World Cup memories and reveals his striker solution Robertson on Scotland's objectives this summerFourFourTwo's essential 2026 World Cup pack!Get your hands on the newest issue of FourFourTwo - our ultimate World Cup pack! Featuring: Englands American dream, Jordan Pickford and Morgan Rogers, Scotlands return, Mauricio Pochettino Q&A, biggest upsets plus a huge wallchart and preview special!View DealThat was always the aim, Robertson tells FourFourTwo when asked about what it means to play at a World Cup. Qualifying for tournaments was one thing, but to help take your country to a World Cup was always the biggest driving factor. Its the biggest stage its the pinnacle and the tournament that everyone in the world wants to be involved in.Im not as young as I once was, time was probably a little bit against me in terms of it coming round every four years. So I knew this could potentially be my last chance and I didnt want to give that up I wanted to give absolutely everything to make that happen. We made sure everything off the pitch was spot on, then it was up to us to deliver on the pitch. Credit to the lads, we all did that. Its a relief of course, but something Im very proud of. We all are.Scotlands qualification for Euro 2020 marked their return to tournament football for the first time since France 98, while a disappointing showing at Euro 2024 means the Scots head across the Atlantic with plenty of recent experience at major tournaments.Tournament football is unique, Robertson adds. Its completely different to anything else youll play within the game. The more you experience that, the more youre going to learn from it. With the two Euros, there were certain games we were happy with and certain games that we werent.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Its also about getting things right off the pitch to make the lads produce their best performances. That definitely helped us in qualifying campaigns, and I think a good part of your team journey is disappointment and how you react to it. After the Euros there was disappointment, but we then came back and qualified for a World Cup. It shows we can bounce back, but the one thing this team hasnt achieved is to have a successful tournament.Its up to us now to make the next step and prove we can be successful at that level. Thats what we want, and thats whats left for us to achieve. Weve got another chance at it this summer we hope this can be the tournament that clicks for us, and that we can show the best version of ourselves out there. Hopefully the team can create even more history.And as Robertson looks ahead, how does he feel about having the chance to become the first Scotland team to ever make it out of the group stage at a major tournament?Were not thinking too much about being the first team to get out of the group, he insist. Thats always the aim to win games and play in the knockouts. We know how difficult a group were in, and we want to be successful and win enough points to make that happen.But being able to play Brazil, the most successful and iconic team in World Cup history, is pretty special. And then playing against Morocco and Haiti too, I think theyre three really good games to have at a World Cup and fantastic to be involved in. Were just excited for the matches, to try to be the best version of ourselves and aim to make it out of the group.Its not about creating history, its about us wanting to be successful in this tournament, and well create a bit of history along the way if we can make that happen.TOPICSScotlandWorld Cup 2026Joe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromAlasdair Mackenzie
