Scotland head coach Steve Clarke resigned immediately after the national team's elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 was confirmed.
Croatia's 2-1 victory over Ghana ended Scotland's remaining hopes of reaching the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-placed teams. The Scottish Football Association confirmed that Clarke is leaving his position after seven years in charge of the national side. Scotland marked their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a 1-0 victory over Haiti in their opening match. However, defeats against stronger opponents left their campaign in difficulty.
Scotland lost 1-0 to Morocco before suffering a 3-0 defeat to Brazil, finishing third in Group L with three points and a goal difference of minus three. After the defeat to Brazil, Clarke and his players acknowledged that their chances of reaching the last 32 were extremely limited.
The results in the remaining groups, particularly Croatia's win over Ghana, ended Scotland's hopes of progressing further in the tournament.
It is another major tournament in which Scotland failed to progress beyond the group stage. The national team has now appeared in nine FIFA World Cups and four UEFA European Championships without advancing beyond the opening round.
Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, said he was "sorry" to see Clarke leave his post and praised him for leading the national team to its first World Cup finals appearance since 1998. Swinney also wished Clarke well for the future and described his farewell letter to supporters as "a fantastic, loving message to Scotland".
In his farewell letter, Clarke thanked his players for their commitment since 2019, saying it had been a privilege to serve as their manager and wishing his successor every success.
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