Image credit: Sangjinhwa

What a night! The Scotland men’s national team has qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The 18th of November is now etched into the minds of Scotland fans forever, a moment for history, fans young and old banding together to celebrate the success of a nation. THIS IS FOOTBALL!

Being born in 2004 means I have never witnessed Scotland qualify for the World Cup. I’ve seen European qualifications, a battering in Germany, heartbreak at Hampden (on many occasions), but this sensation – the epitome of pride, the feeling of history, is one that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Like many others, I grew sceptical of success on Tuesday night. Many a time have Scotland fans witnessed our dreams come crashing down at Hampden. However, this feeling has never deterred us, and the belief on Tuesday night was palpable. A whole nation believed that this was our moment, our chance to end an agonising 28-year wait for the taste of World Cup glory.

As the national anthem rang around Hampden, it only fuelled our fire: the fans were ready, the Danes were ready, but were the eleven men of Scotland ready? This was an occasion that could have suffocated our fire, scuppered our belief, but Steve Clarke’s army marched to glorious victory in the most Scottish fashion!

Scott McTominay, take a bow – in fact, build the man a statue – after this night, we may have a whole host of statues outside of Hampden Park! The Napoli midfielder has often shown his resilience in a Scotland shirt and has carried the torch of hope, and on Tuesday night, he lit up Hampden Park. After rising highest to Gannon Doak’s cross – a whopping eight feet in the air to be exact – his overhead kick powered into the Danish net as Hampden erupted. After just three minutes, the Scots had taken the lead.

This was by no means the best Scotland performance as the Danes pressured Scotland for an equaliser and found their just desserts ten minutes after half-time, with Rasmus Hojlund equalising from the penalty spot. We are not known for courage for nothing, though, and after the Danes were reduced to ten men, Scotland turned the tide.

What ensued is arguably some of the most enthralling twenty minutes of football at Hampden Park.

After calls that Lawrence Shankland should have started up front, the striker made no mistake in proving his worth as he began the rampage to sweet victory. The Hearts striker converted from Ferguson’s corner, injecting faith back into Hampden.

Scotland’s nail was still on a shaky peg as the Danes once again found the equaliser, proving that they were not going down without a fight, as Manchester United’s Dorgu side-footed his effort into the Scotland net.

If there is anything that epitomises Scottish football, it is our never-say-die attitude: Kieran Tierney exhibited that in abundance. The substitute reared Scotland’s head above the parapet and took fire at Denmark as his cracking effort from 20 yards out surely sealed Scotland’s place in the World Cup. A history-defining strike, possibly the pinnacle of his career – and one which arguably asserts itself amongst one of the best goals of the night.

Well – Kenny McLean may have a quarrel with that.

As the jeers echoed around Hampden for full-time, the referee played on for what felt like an eternity. With every member of the Tartan army calling for full-time, Kenny McLean pulled off the impossible. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, McLean carved his name into the history books as he lobbed back-peddling Kasper Schmeichel from inside his own half. What came after his wonder strike can only be described as absolute bedlam.

Limbs flew everywhere, Scotland fans, young and old, were in pieces as their beloved nation, their heroes, booked themselves a place in the coveted World Cup. This is a feat that has taken 28 years to achieve; a scenario many would have believed would never come. For this sole reason, the 18th of November will live on in the minds of Scotland fans forever, with the memories of that historic night rippling for generations to come.

The only thing left to be said is, America, you’d better have your beer at the ready, as Scotland is coming to party. Yes, Sir, we will Boogie!

Louise Davidson

I have a keen interest in sport journalism and broadcasting.