Mapping England and Scotland’s Paths in the World Cup

As the excitement builds for the upcoming World Cup, England and Scotland face a complex path through the tournament. Their potential matchups hinge on group placements and individual performance during the early stages.
England’s Potential Paths
If England achieves a strong start against Croatia and secures the top spot in their group, they will advance to the knockout stage. The first knockout match is set to take place in Atlanta.
Possible Opponents for England
The intricacies of this World Cup format mean England could face one of 20 different teams in this round. Teams from five groups—E, H, I, J, and K—could provide the eight advancing third-placed teams.
- Ecuador
- Ivory Coast
- Saudi Arabia
- Cape Verde
- Senegal
- Norway
A favorable matchup may present itself for England, although a game against Norway, led by Erling Haaland, could pose a challenge.
Scotland’s Journey Ahead
Scotland has its own set of scenarios to consider. If they clinch the top position in Group C, their next match will likely be against the runners-up of Group F, potentially facing Japan or Tunisia in Houston.
Options for Scotland Based on Group Placement
Should Scotland finish second, they would travel to Mexico to contest the group winners, with the Netherlands as strong contenders. Their chances get more complicated if they advance as the third-placed team:
- Winner of Group A – Potential matchup against Mexico in Mexico City
- Winner of Group E – Possible face-off against Germany in Foxborough
- Winner of Group I – Match against France in East Rutherford
As the tournament approaches, both England and Scotland’s paths remain uncertain, with fans eagerly anticipating how each team will navigate their respective routes through the World Cup.



