As the Euro 2024 qualification draw approaches, information on Scotland’s potential group opponents.
The Euro 2024 finals will be the next major competition for Scotland, and the qualification run will begin at the first international break in 2023. Scotland’s last outing as a co-host nation came at Euro 2020, where they placed last in Group D, following appearances in 1992, 1996, and the 1998 World Cup.
Steve Clarke‘s team almost lost out on a spot at the 2022 World Cup, but they made up for it by getting promoted to the UEFA Nations League’s top division, and they now have their sights set on the next European Championship.
So, against whom might the Tartan Army ultimately compete?
Scotland’s choice for Euro 2024 qualifiers
Scotland is in Pot 2 as a result of their second-place finish in the Nations League, which resulted in their promotion to League A.
They will avoid France, England, Wales, Austria, the Czech Republic, Israel, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, and Finland since they cannot be paired with other Pot 2 teams.
However, they may be partnered with a player from the UNL Pot or Pot 1 who is from the Netherlands, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Switzerland, or Poland.
The Republic of Ireland, Ukraine, Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Romania, Montenegro, Armenia, or Albania could be the opponents for Scotland in Pot 3.
Georgia, Greece, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, and North Macedonia are a few potential Pot 4 rivals. However, it should be noted that Kazakhstan is inside the limits (see exceptions below), thus they might not be necessary depending on how the draw turns out.
Slovak Republic, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Belarus, Lithuania, Gibraltar, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, and Malta are all included in Pot 5, while Andorra, San Marino, and Liechtenstein are all included in Pot 6.
Scotland won’t play Gibraltar if they are paired with Spain because of UEFA’s prohibited pairing regulations. They won’t play Azerbaijan if they draw Armenia, either. There is no likelihood of them also facing Belarus from Pot 5 if they are matched with Ukraine from Pot 3.
There is absolutely no prospect that Scotland will face either the defending champion Germany or the disqualified Russia.
Breaking down the pots for the Euro 2024 qualifying draw
You can see every pot competing below:
| Pot | Teams |
| UNL Pot | Netherlands, Croatia, Spain, Italy |
| Pot 1 | Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland |
| Pot 2 | France, Austria, Czech Republic, England, Wales, Israel, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, SCOTLAND, Finland |
| Pot 3 | Ukraine, Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Montenegro, Romania, Sweden, Armenia |
| Pot 4 | Georgia, Greece, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia |
| Pot 5 | Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Belarus, Lithuania, Gibraltar, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, Malta |
| Pot 6 | Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein |
On Sunday, October 9, 2022, the group draws for the Euro 2024 qualifying round will take place. It is scheduled to start at 11 am BST (6 am ET).
On the UEFA website, you can watch it live.
UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying draw exceptions
The following exceptions apply to the draw: Prohibited clashes
Due to geopolitical considerations, these teams cannot be placed in the same Euro 2024 qualification group:
Spain and Gibraltar
Armenia and Azerbaijan
Belarus and Ukraine
Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina
Kosovo and Serbia
Winter venue restrictions
A group can only contain a maximum of two teams whose sites are thought to be at risk of harsh winter weather. These teams for high/medium winter risk include:
Belarus
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
Iceland
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Excessive travel restrictions
A maximum of one pairing may be used in each group because it has been determined that some teams must travel farther than other teams:
Azerbaijan with Gibraltar, Iceland, and Portugal
Iceland with Cyprus, Georgia, and Israel
Kazakhstan with Andorra, England, France, Gibraltar, Iceland, Malta, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Spain, and Wales.
When does qualifying for Euro 2024 begin?
| Matchday | Date(s) |
| Qualifying matchday one | March 23 – March 25, 2023 |
| Qualifying matchday two | March 26 – March 28, 2023 |
| Qualifying matchday three | June 16 – June 17, 2023 |
| Qualifying matchday four | June 19 – June 20, 2023 |
| Qualifying matchday five | September 7 – September 9, 2023 |
| Qualifying matchday six | September 10 – September 12, 2023 |
| Qualifying matchday seven | October 12 – October 14, 2023 |
| Qualifying matchday eight | October 15 – October 17, 2023 |
| Qualifying matchday nine | November 16 – November 18, 2023 |
| Qualifying matchday 10 | November 19 – November 21, 2023 |
Matchdays one and two of the qualifying for Euro 2024 are played between March 23 and March 28, 2023. Ten matchdays will make up the qualification period, with the final matchday occurring in November 2023.
The playoffs for Euro 2024, in which Scotland may compete should they fail to place in the top two of their group, will be held in March 2024, with the main competition beginning on June 14, 2024.
For more insights on leagues and matches like, football news and updates, keep watching this space.
