BBC Scotland analyses the severity of Dundee United's current predicament.

Fifa’s demand that the most fervent supporters cough up a minimum of £5,000 in advance just for tickets is scandalous It was not mathematically confirmed until the Latvia game a month later, but as I watched Ezri Konsa turn in the third goal away to Serbia in early September I smiled to myself in the Stadion Rajko Mitic, knowing England were going to the World Cup. But immediately, a key question surfaced: was I? The answer came on Thursday, with the announcement of the ticket prices that the most loyal supporters of international football would have to pay. And that answer, emphatically, was no, as it will be for countless supporters worldwide. If you had asked me as a hypothetical what seeing England in a World Cup final was worth, I might have said: “Priceless.” But $4,185 – £3,130 – just for the match ticket? No, no, no. As a fan, I have been to 14 tournaments – nine European Championships and five World Cups – dating back to Euro 92. I have the money, or at least could get it by dipping into my pension pot, which I was braced to do for hotels and flights. But, in a sentiment being echoed across England, Scotland and all the other qualifying nations, I’m not spending a minimum of about £5,000 simply on match tickets, the price Fifa has put on watching your team from group stage through to the final (the exact total will vary, depending on where a country’s group matches are). Continue reading...

From release by Leicester City to the Scottish Premiership's top scorer, BBC Scotland charts the rise of Motherwell's Afcon-bound striker, Tawanda Maswanhise.

Former Motherwell, Celtic and Scotland striker John 'Dixie' Deans has died aged 79.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, John Brewin and Seb Hutchinson to discuss Mohamed Salah’s explosive interview, Arsenal’s late defeat at Villa and the best of the weekend’s Premier League action On today’s pod: Mohamed Salah goes nuclear after being left out at Elland Road, questioning his head coach, his role and seemingly everything around him, as Liverpool throw away another late lead in a chaotic 3-3 draw with Leeds. The panel discuss the fallout of Salah’s words and reflect on Liverpool’s dismal run of form. Meanwhile, Arsenal slip up at Villa thanks to an injury-time scramble, while Rayan Cherki’s rabona (or rotunda) helps keep Manchester City in the title hunt. The panel discusses all the weekend’s action, including the battle for fourth, as Palace move up into the top four, Everton somehow rise to sixth, and Spurs finally win at home. Plus: Brighton bans the Guardian from the Amex after a week of revelations, as John Brewin discusses not being at the game. Plus reflections on the World Cup draw, including England’s path, Scotland’s group of doom and Gianni and Trump’s unforgettable stagecraft. Continue reading...

BBC Scotland's Martin Dowden assesses Wilfried Nancy's first game in charge of Celtic as Hearts win at Parkhead.

BBC Scotland looks at the reality for fans following Steve Clarke's side in the World Cup.

BBC Scotland explores Motherwell's revolution under Jens Berthel Askou

Tuchel’s team will play at Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium Scotland’s opener against Haiti in Boston is at 2am UK time England will kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas at 9pm UK time on Wednesday 17 June, it has been announced. Thomas Tuchel’s team will play at the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, which has a retractable roof and air conditioning, which will mitigate the effects of a 4pm ET kick-off or 3pm local time. The roof will be closed for the opener. Continue reading...

Former Scotland forward James McFadden joins Football Focus to react to his country's 2026 World Cup group draw.

It took a while, but the World Cup draw is finally done and fans of England and Scotland can start to work out their path to glory.

BBC Scotland digs into Scotland's World Cup progression prospects.

England to play Croatia, Panama and Ghana in Group L France joined by Senegal and Norway in Group I Trump awarded inaugural Fifa peace prize England will face a rematch of their 2018 semi-final in the opening fixture of their World Cup campaign next summer, after they were drawn alongside Croatia in Group L. England will also play Panama, another side they faced at the Russia World Cup, and Ghana. Venues and kick-off times will be announced from 5pm GMT on Saturday but the group’s matches are split across four US cities – Dallas, Boston, New York/New Jersey and Philadelphia – and Toronto. Continue reading...

Before Friday’s event we also examine a possible overall group of death and where geopolitics could meet football Croatia are the highest-ranked potential Pot 2 opponents (10th) and reached the final and the semi-finalis at the past two World Cups respectively but, with a maximum of two European teams in each group, drawing them would eliminate for England the possibility of facing Erling Haaland’s Norway, who are in Pot 3, or Italy, who are in Pot 4, if the four-time champions get through the playoffs in March. Continue reading...