Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer in Miami

I bumped into a few Tartan Army foot soldiers in downtown Miami last night. Almost impossible not to. The boys were between boozers. We got talking about permutations, as you do. We had to laugh. Here we are in Miami about to watch Scotland playing Brazil but also obsessing and scratching our heads about how Bosnia get on against Qatar and how Curacao do against Ivory Coast. Surreal but brilliantly so. One of the lads said that it all starts to make sense only when he's "bevvied up."

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland at Miami Stadium

Carlo Ancelotti kept everybody waiting last night.

The Brazilian press conference was due to start at 1930 local time, which in itself is quite late.

This eventually got knocked back to 2030, with it nearer 2100 before Ancelotti emerged.

There was no player with him as is the norm, just the legend and about 200 journalists.

He made reference to having a couple of issues, so Scotland fans will be hoping the Brazilians are feeling a bit travel weary.

Image source, Scott Mullen

Lewis Ferguson leads all Scotland players at the 2026 World Cup for tackles made (8), interceptions (4) and duels won (20), while only Jack Hendry (120) has completed more passes than Ferguson (101).

Image source, Getty Images

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Miami

For so many of us, we grew up on the story of the kilted lads lining up against the brilliant Brazilians, who were hand-in-hand in Paris.

Everyone remembers Craig Brown's words, eh?

Norway was fleetingly mentioned while Morocco was a no-go topic. Brazil is, was and always will be, the biggie.

A real full-circle moment. Mon then, let's have it...

Megan Bonar
BBC Scotland News, Miami

At South Beach in Miami, Stevie Parker from Larbert told BBC Scotland News: "I think they will do it. It feels like we are on the brink of history.

"I think this is the year we might just scrape over the line.

"It'll be a historic day and the perfect end to a long arduous trip for the Tartan Army."

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Possession but no end product. The frustration will linger for England after their 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday.

The Three Lions had 78.8% possession in Boston, but were unable to find a breakthrough against their diligent opponent. It’s the most of the ball on record (from 1966) by any side in a World Cup match without managing to score.

The outcome has been in keeping with a wider trend at the tournament so far though, with possession dominance not necessarily equating to a positive result.

Of the 10 teams that have had the highest possession in a game at the World Cup, only two of them have won the match – Canada when they beat nine-man Qatar 6-0 and Algeria when they overcame Jordan 1-0.

On six of the 10 occasions, the team with the most of the ball failed to score and aside from Canada, none of the sides scored more than once.

It means the most extreme examples of teams playing in a low block have actually fared well at this World Cup.

For sides like Scotland who are looking to earn a point in their final group game to qualify for the knockout stages, the numbers are food for thought.

So while Lawrence Shankland may have boldly claimed the clash with Brazil is one Scotland are looking to win, perhaps there is a more pragmatic way for them to get what they need.

Legendary Scottish football commentator and broadcaster Archie Macpherson tells Radio Scotland the pundits do not regard this Brazilian side as anywhere near the teams of the past.

However he adds: “They’re beginning to score goals again.

“That sends a chill up my spine.”

“Steve Clarke’s team has given the impression that crossing over into the opponents half was a dereliction of duty,” he says.

“The Tartan Army deserve better from the men in blue jerseys.”

Image source, Opta

Can Scotland finally escape the group stage, or will a familiar foe break Tartan Army hearts?

Opta's supercomputer has told us whether Scotland have a chance to make history or not.

Meeting in Miami for their fifth World Cup encounter, Scotland are already guaranteed to finish at least third in Group C.

Just one more point would surely confirm progress to the World Cup’s knockout phase for the very first time- even a slim loss could prove enough.

Scotland have never beaten South American opposition at the World Cup (D2 L6).

Among those matches are four games against Brazil, who they first met in 1974.

Though that encounter with the then-reigning champions ended goalless, Brazil have since won three times- 1982, 1990, and again in 1998.

Brazil are the team Scotland have faced most without ever winning (P10 D2 L8).

The Opta supercomputer’s 25,000 pre-match simulations established Brazil as clear favourites, with a 69.6% chance of success.

Scotland only have a modest 12.2% chance of claiming victory, with the draw rated at 18.2%.

Guide Dogs, external, the charity, has named a guide dog puppy “McGinn” in honour of Scotland midfielder John McGinn, whose iconic World Cup goal celebration has highlighted the experiences of children and young people living with sight loss.

McGinn’s celebration was inspired by his nephew, who wears goggles while playing football because of his low vision.

And the 31-year-old does not want any kids in Scotland - or indeed anywhere - to be put off being themselves, hence his iconic celebration.

After scoring Scotland’s winner against Haiti, the gesture has resonated with supporters around the world and sparked conversations about inclusion in sport.

Ahead of Scotland’s final FIFA World Cup group-stage match against Brazil on Wednesday 24 June, Guide Dogs revealed that a yellow Labrador x Golden Retriever puppy has been given the name “McGinn”.

Image source, bbc

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Miami

When in Rome...

Image source, PA Media

• Brazil are the team Scotland have faced most in international football without ever winning (P10 D2 L8).
• Conversely, Brazil’s 10 games against Scotland is the joint-most they’ve played a nation without ever losing, along with Austria (W7 D3).
• Scotland and Brazil’s first World Cup encounter was in 1974, ending in a goalless draw. Since then, Brazil have won their last three matches against Scotland at the tournament (4-1 in 1982, 1-0 in 1990 and 2-1 in 1998).

Image source, Getty Images

On the basis of what you've seen against Haiti and Morocco, do you think Scotland have what it takes to make it to the next round of the tournament?

Let us know by voting in our poll below.

Fernando Duarte is a Brazilian journalist at the BBC World Service and he tells Radio Scotland: “Dismiss Brazil at your own peril.”

“I’m expecting Brazil to evolve during this competition for as long as they go.

“It’s definitely not a vintage crop but you still have some amazing players like Vinicius Junior.”

He assumes things are going to get better after the turmoil of having four managers in four years.

And he points out Brazil have never lost to a United Kingdom side in the World Cup and he advises Scotland to “park the bus”.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA

Former Scotland boss Craig Levein tells Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live: “We’ll have to be at our absolute best to qualify."

On tonight's match he adds: “We’ll need to be absolutely brilliant defensively, I’m not just talking about the back line, I’m talking about the whole team.

“It’s much easier to stop people scoring than it is to actually score yourself.”

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Scotland's switch to the Sunshine State is more than a little serendipitous for the Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh.

These days he divides his time between homes in Edinburgh, London, and Miami.

He says it’s great to have the Scotland Brazil match in his “home from home”.

On Scotland’s team he says: “We’re limited, we know we are, we’ve got a great midfield, we’ve got a journeyman defence and we don’t have much up front.

“It’s hard not to qualify now we’ve beaten Haiti. If we avoid getting slaughtered by Brazil we’ll probably get through and live to fight another day.”

The Tartan Army has been phenomenal and it shows the World Cup is a great festival with people connecting he says.