Scotland are set for their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 28 years and Steve Clarke's side will find out which sides they will face at the tournament when the draw for the finals is made on Friday evening. 

The draw will take place at 5pm (UK time), live from the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, with Scotland in Pot 3 for the group stage draw. 

Clarke's side guaranteed their spot in the World Cup last month, on a famous night in Glasgow when goals from Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland, Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean secured a 4-2 win over Denmark which saw Scotland top Group C. 

Next year's FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, 11 June in Mexico City, with the final on Sunday, 19 July in the New York New Jersey Stadium.

How does the draw work?

The three host countries, Mexico, Canada and USA will be drawn first and put into groups A1, B1 and D1 respectively. The remaining nine Pot 1 teams will then be drawn into groups, with separate pathways to the semi-finals established to separate the four highest-ranked teams (Spain, Argentina, France and England).

The sides from Pots 2, 3 and 4 are then drawn in that order, with the Scots in Pot 3, as determined by World Rankings. For the drawing of Pots 2, 3 and 4, the balls are drawn in a pre-determined order to determine the team's position in the groups, explained in further detail here.

The pattern will ensure that, in principle, no group will have more than one team from the same confederation drawn into it - apart from UEFA, which is represented by 16 teams. Each group must have at least one, but no more than two UEFA teams drawn into it.

Six of the teams in Pot 4 are not yet known, with balls set aside for the winners of the six different play-offs which are yet to take place.

The draw will conclude once all teams from Pot 4 have been drawn into a group.

The full draw procedures are listed here.

Who could Scotland face?

As well as the three hosts, Canada, Mexico and USA, Pot 1 includes holders Argentina, five-times winners Brazil and EURO 2024 winners Spain among the 12 teams.

Pot 2 contains some familiar names, with Austria, Croatia and Switzerland all teams we have faced under Clarke's stewardship, as well as the likes of Senegal and Korea Republic, who we are yet to face in a competitive match.

Pot 4 contains several sides who Scotland have never faced before, including Curaçao, Ghana and Haiti, while Wales, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are among the sides who could be placed in Pot 4 if they were to successfully navigate the play-offs.

Draw Pots

Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany

Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia

Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2

Where to watch

The draw will be streamed live online on FIFA's website from 5pm (UK time) as well as on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Where will Scotland's matches take place?

For the first time at a World Cup, locations for the matches will not be known until the following day, with FIFA running a second live broadcast (on FIFA's website and Youtube channel), from 5pm (UK time) on Saturday, to confirm the venues and kick-off times for all 104 matches. 

According to FIFA, the process to select the locations will take into account ensuring best possible conditions for teams and spectators while, where possible, accounting for different time zones so supporters back home can watch their teams live.

The final version of the match schedule will be available in March, once the play-offs have taken place and the final six slots have been filled.

The 16 host cities are listed below: 

Western Region: Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles

Central Region: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City

Eastern Region: Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, New York New Jersey