Scotland returns to the World Cup after 28 years. The team managed by Steve Clarke secured their place in the 2026 tournament after a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark in Glasgow, a result that sparked celebrations across a nation that had been waiting for this moment for over two decades. But the euphoria also had an emotional undertone. The 31-year-old Captain Andrew Robertson broke down in tears as he remembered his former teammate Diogo Jota, who passed away in July.
After the match, the full-back faced the press, unable to hold back his tears. The Liverpool captain explained that the game was marked for him by the memory of the Portuguese player, with whom he shared a dressing room for years at Liverpool and whose death deeply affected him.
In this blog on 96 APK, we cover Andrew Robertson’s touching tribute to Diogo Jota and Scotland’s historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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“I’ve been thinking about my friend Diogo Jota all day,” Andrew Robertson
“It feels different. I think I hid it well, but today I’ve been completely exhausted,” he said. “I knew that, at my age, this would be my last chance to go to the World Cup,” he added.
Robertson recounted that he couldn’t stop thinking about Jota all day. “We talked a lot about the World Cup. When he missed Qatar due to injury, and I missed it because Scotland never qualified. We always imagined what it would be like to go to this World Cup together,” he said.
The full-back stated that he had a difficult moment during the pre-match training camp. “I had a little problem in my room earlier, but I hid it well from the guys. I know he’ll be out there somewhere tonight, smiling down on me,” he concluded, visibly upset.
Return after 28 Years
The qualification marks Scotland’s return to the World Cup for the first time since France 1998. It will be their ninth appearance in the tournament. The country debuted in Switzerland in 1954, played in Sweden in 1958, and participated in every edition between 1974 and 1990. They missed the 1994 tournament, returned in 1998, and have been absent for 28 years.
It has never progressed beyond the group stage. Its best performance was at the 1974 World Cup in Germany, where it earned four points, although this wasn’t enough to advance. At the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, it was eliminated on goal difference by the Netherlands, the team that would later reach the final.
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Scotland ended their World Cup qualification campaign on top of Group C, collecting 13 points from six matches. They delivered four victories, suffered one defeat, and recorded one draw in the UEFA first-round qualifiers. Denmark finished second in the group and will now face North Macedonia in the playoff stage. Across the campaign, Scotland scored 13 goals and conceded seven, showcasing a strong balance between attack and defence.
The historic victory against Denmark ended that long wait. This time, the celebration was accompanied by emotion.
Diogo Jota’s Incredible Numbers
Jota joined Liverpool in September 2020 for a transfer fee of around £41 million. Across all competitions for Liverpool, he made 182 appearances and scored 65 goals.
For his country, Portugal, he earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals.
In the English Premier League specifically, one source shows he had 47 goals and 14 assists in 123 appearances for Liverpool. Against the so-called “Big Six” teams in the Premier League, Jota registered 11 goals and 4 assists in 34 appearances.
FAQs
1. Why was Andrew Robertson emotional after Scotland qualified?
He gave an emotional tribute to his former teammate Diogo Jota, who passed away in July, saying he thought about him all day.
2. What did Robertson say about Diogo Jota?
He said they always dreamed of playing in a World Cup together and believed Jota would be proud watching from above.
3. How long has Scotland waited to return to a World Cup?
Scotland returned after 28 years, having last appeared in the 1998 World Cup in France.
4. How did Scotland perform in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers?
They topped Group C with 13 points, winning four matches, drawing one, and losing one while scoring 13 goals and conceding seven.
5. What were Diogo Jota’s career numbers for Liverpool?
He played 182 matches and scored 65 goals across all competitions for Liverpool.
6. How many international goals did Jota score for Portugal?
He earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals for the Portugal national team.
