World Cup 2026 / Scotland - Morocco: the history of their encounters

Morocco has fond memories of its only senior meeting with Scotland. Ahead of this new World Cup 2026 clash, let's revisit a historic encounter contested in France back in 1998.

This Friday night, Morocco and Scotland will face off at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, just outside Boston, for the second matchday in Group C of the 2026 World Cup. Kick-off for this pivotal showdown is set for 11:00 pm (Moroccan time), with the Atlas Lions holding a slight historical advantage.

In fact, these two national teams have only met once before at senior level. That lone meeting came on matchday three of the group stage at the 1998 World Cup, on June 23 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne, where Morocco cruised to an emphatic 3-0 victory.

Thanks to a brace from Salaheddine Bassir (22', 85') and a goal from Abdeljalil Hadda (46'), Henri Michel's squad delivered a memorable performance. However, that triumph wasn't enough to secure a place in the round of 16, as Norway's shock win over Brazil (2-1) ultimately eliminated the Moroccans. Notably, Scottish midfielder Craig Burley was sent off in the 53rd minute.