Brazil Anthem Ignites World Cup 2026 Crowd as Both Fan Bases Roar

Q: Will Scotland finally break its World Cup curse, or is another historic heartbreak against Brazil imminent?

Scotland has a real chance to break its World Cup curse, but Brazil remains the likelier source of another painful chapter. The facts make this a genuine opportunity. Scotland are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and the expanded 48-team format gives them a better route than any previous generation had. In Group C, they beat Haiti 1-0 and lost 1-0 to Morocco, leaving them in a position where a draw or win against Brazil would send them through. Even a narrow defeat could still leave them with a chance as one of the best third-placed teams. That said, the football evidence points to a very difficult night. Scotland have struggled badly in attack, producing only two shots on target against Haiti and none against Morocco. Andy Robertson has openly said they need a more clinical edge, while the defense must be near-perfect against Brazil’s attacking quality, led by Vinicius Jr. and potentially Neymar. History also weighs heavily. Scotland have never gone beyond the first round in eight previous World Cups, and Brazil have often been part of that story, including defeats in 1990 and 1998. Even when Scotland earned a famous 0-0 draw with Brazil in 1974, they still went out. So this is not just sentiment or nostalgia from supporters like Paul Connelly. Scotland are closer than ever to ending the pattern, but to do it they must produce their most complete World Cup performance against one of the tournament’s strongest teams.

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 24

Brazil’s anthem drew a thunderous response before the World Cup 2026 match, with both sets of supporters loudly joining in and amplifying the pregame atmosphere.
The rendition stood out as a shared crowd moment rather than a one-sided display, turning the buildup into a high-energy scene inside the stadium.
One supporter, Paul Connelly, recalled attending the 1966 game with his father and said that despite living in Canada since 1968, he still wants Scotland to do well.
That mix of Brazil’s musical pull and Scotland-linked fan nostalgia underscored the emotionally charged backdrop to the match.