World Cup 2026: Brazil vs Scotland Prediction, Tips & Odds

* Odds supplied by Betway, accurate at the time of writing.

Brazil take on Scotland at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in the last Group C game, kicking off at 00:00 CAT on Thursday. Brazil lead the group on four points and a draw is all they need to guarantee a top two finish, while Scotland know that victory sends them through and a draw will most likely see them qualify among the best third-placed teams. All our World Cup betting tips are waiting for you in our dedicated section.

Brazil

Brazil lead the group thanks to a 1-1 draw against Morocco and an easy 3-0 win over Haiti, so they are all but through; where exactly they finish in the group, though, is still wide open. Rodrygo is missing the tournament with a ruptured ACL and Estevao is sidelined by a hamstring injury, but Neymar has been passed fit and Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Matheus Cunha give the attack lots of bite. With top spot in sight and a top two finish locked in with a draw, I think Ancelotti will freshen things up and rest key players instead of chasing a result he does not really need. Their quality on the ball is still the best in the group, and even a rotated Brazil team will hold a clear advantage.

Expected Starting XI: Alisson; Wesley, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Santos; Paqueta, Casemiro, Guimaraes, Vinicius Junior; Raphinha, Cunha.

Scotland

Scotland started with a gritty 1-0 win against Haiti, but a tight 1-0 defeat to Morocco left them third on three points going into this match. Steve Clarke will set his team up to stay compact and hit on the break, relying on Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay and John McGinn down the middle. A draw would take them to four points, and judging by the best third placed race, that should almost surely be enough, so Clarke has no need to throw caution to the wind. With Brazil also happy with a point, Scotland may expect a cagey night in which one moment decides whether they end up second, third or out of the Round of 32.

Expected Starting XI: Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; Patterson, Christie, McGinn, Ferguson, Robertson; McTominay, Adams.

With Brazil content with a point to clinch first place and Scotland knowing a draw probably takes them through, I see this as a measured, slow paced game, not an end to end thriller. Brazil have the stronger players and should do enough to take the three points, but a rotated team and shared motives suggest a narrow margin and not many clear chances. My prediction: Brazil 1 Scotland 0.

Under 2.5 Goals (1.94)

As I see it, this will be a low scoring match since both teams have reasons to stay careful, with Brazil fine with a draw and Scotland only needing to avoid losing to be well placed. Scotland have scored only one goal in their two group matches, and Brazil are likely to rotate and keep control instead of hunting goals. My value pick here is Under 2.5 Goals at 1.94.