BBC Scotland Football: Broadcasting Scotland’s Historic World Cup Journey

Scotland’s Return to the World Cup Stage

Scotland secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in November 2025, joining Spain, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland as European qualifiers. Kieran Tierney’s injury-time goal put Scotland 3-2 ahead against Denmark, before Kenny McLean sealed a 4-2 victory with a long-range screamer that sparked jubilant celebrations at a sold-out Hampden Park. The men’s team will play at a World Cup finals for the first time since 1998, marking a historic achievement for Scottish football after decades of disappointment.

BBC Scotland’s Comprehensive Coverage

The BBC secured an exclusive deal to broadcast all Scotland Men’s National Team matches on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, covering 14 live Scotland matches including European Qualifiers and Nations League fixtures on BBC One Scotland and BBC iPlayer. This landmark agreement represents the first time the broadcaster has secured live rights for all three of the UK’s devolved nations, ensuring free-to-air access for millions of Scottish supporters.

BBC Scotland provides live free-to-air coverage of one match from each round of the Scottish Cup, including the final, and offers comprehensive highlights through its Sportscene programmes. The primary highlights show, Sportscene, is broadcast for free on BBC Scotland each weekend with two episodes typically airing – one on Saturday night and one on Sunday night.

Expanded Scottish Championship Coverage

BBC Scotland is expanding its coverage of the Scottish Football Championship starting in 2025, broadcasting up to 30 live matches from the Scottish Championship each season – a significant rise from the current limit of 20 games per season. A weekly highlights programme featuring the best action from the William Hill Championship and Leagues 1 and 2 will be available on the BBC Sport Scotland website and app each Monday of the season.

What This Means for Scottish Football Fans

BBC Scotland’s enhanced football coverage provides unprecedented access to both international and domestic Scottish football. Scotland’s first World Cup outing in 28 years will be against Haiti at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on 13 June, with the tournament played across Canada, USA and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The combination of free-to-air international matches and expanded domestic coverage ensures that Scottish football supporters can follow their teams throughout this historic period, marking a golden era for accessibility and engagement with the national game.