FIFA World Cup 2026 Scotland v Morocco Friday, 19 June, 2026 Boston Stadium, Foxborough
Scorers
Scotland 0
Morocco 1 (Sabairi 2)
Team News
Scotland made three changes from the side that defeated Haiti 1-0 on Saturday, with Kieran Tierney, Ryan Christie and Nathan Patterson coming in for Aaron Hickey, Ben Gannon-Doak and Lawrence Shankland.
Scotland also switched from a 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Christie anchoring the midfield alongside Lewis Ferguson, and Tierney in an advanced left midfield role.
As it happened
The Scotland supporters had made their voices heard pre-match with another spine-tingling edition of “Flower of Scotland” but the fans were left stunned moments later as Morocco took the lead inside 71 seconds.
The dangerous Ismael Saibari raced onto a precise ball from Brahim Diaz before unleashing a powerful shot into the top corner, past a helpless Angus Gunn.
Scotland were stunned and struggled to get a foothold in the opening minutes as Morocco enjoyed plenty of the ball, but we grew into it as the first half wore on.
The Scottish fans were then left aggrieved minutes before the game’s first water break as Issa Diop was only yellow carded after hauling down Che Adams as the Scotland striker looked to latch onto a ball over the top from Patterson.
It was Morocco who had the next chance just before the half hour mark as Neil El Aynaoui was picked out unmarked in the box but he blazed wastefully over.
23 was next to go close in the 36th minute as he also fired over at the end of another slick Morocco counter, though Scotland were adamant that Scott McTominay had been fouled in the build up.
Scotland’s best move of the half came in the final minute, as Adams almost connected with a dangerous Patterson cross before McGinn volleyed wide from an Andy Robertson cross as Scotland kept the ball alive.
The Moroccans were rattled for the first time and Tierney saw his shot blocked from an Adams cutback as the Scots finished the half in the ascendancy.
Scotland started the second half well and had a shout for a penalty when McGinn appeared to be felled in the area by El Aynaoui but the referee was unmoved.
Morocco remained dangerous however and they hit the woodwork moments later as Jack Hendry did superbly to deflect Saibari’s shot onto the top of the crossbar.
Gunn then had to show quick reactions in the 52nd minute to deflect a near post Bilal El Khannouss header away to safety.
The Scotland supporters were feeling aggrieved following the penalty decision and they made their feelings known to referee Ilgiz Tantashev as he opted not to award a free kick to Ferguson, following some tenacious break up play from the midfielder.
Scotland made our first change just before the hour mark as Tierney made way for the exciting Ben Gannon-Doak.
Scotland were attempting to press their opponents as McGinn did well to intercept a Diop pass, resulting in a shot from Christie from the edge of the area that flew narrowly over.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke continued to utilise his bench, bringing on Kenny McLean and Lyndon Dykes for Christie and Che Adams during the second hydration break.
Scotland had struggled to get Gannon-Doak into the game since his introduction but he was soon making an impact, skipping by two Morocco challenges before eventually being crowded out.
Scotland were left frustrated once again as they game ticked into the last ten minutes, with McTominay going down in the box under a challenge but once again the referee waved play on.
Scotland were finishing the strongest and McTominay almost found a leveller with ten minutes remaining as he drove powerfully into the box before unleashing a low shot that was deflected into the side netting.
McTominay came close again in the 88th minute as he did well to reach Gannon-Doak’s low centre but once again Morocco were able to block, with the ball spinning safely into the hands of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
In the end Scotland were unable to force an equaliser, but the narrow defeat means that Scotland are very much in with a shout of qualification going into our final Group C match against Brazil in Miami.
Next Up
Scotland will return to the team base in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, before flying to Miami on Monday ahead of Wednesday's final group match against Brazil.
Teams
Scotland: Gunn, Patterson, Hendry, Hanley, Robertson, Ferguson, Christie, McGinn, McTominay, Tierney, Adams
Unused Substitutes: Curtis, Dykes, Fletcher, Gannon-Doak, Gordon, Hickey, Hirst, Hyam, Kelly, McKenna, McLean, Ralston, Shankland, Souttar, Stewart
Morocco: Bounou, Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui, El Aynaoui, Bouaddi, Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss, Saibari
Unused substitutes: Amaimouni-Echghouyab, Amrabat, Belammari, El Kaabi, El Mourabet, El Ouahdi, Halhal, El Kajoui, Rahimi, Saadane, Salah-Eddine, Sbai, Tagnaouti, Talbi, Yassine
