Denmark and Scotland Begin World Cup Qualifying Campaign with Tactical Stalemate in Copenhagen

Opening Clash Sets Tone for World Cup Qualifying

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup began at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on September 5, 2025, as Denmark hosted Scotland in a highly anticipated qualifier. The match kicked off at 19:45 UK time (20:45 CET).

This crucial encounter marked the beginning of both nations’ qualifying campaigns, with Denmark pursuing their third consecutive World Cup appearance, while Scotland aimed to end their nearly 30-year absence from the tournament.

Match Highlights and Key Moments

After 95 minutes of intense play, neither team managed to break the deadlock, resulting in both sides sharing the points at the start of their road to the 2026 World Cup.

The closest chance of the match fell to Denmark when Pierre Emile Hojbjerg’s header from a right-wing cross nearly found the target, but Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn made a crucial save.

From Scotland’s perspective, they executed their tactical plan effectively, maintaining a disciplined defensive formation with two banks of four. While they managed to create some promising attacking positions, they lacked the final quality in the attacking third. Most importantly, they succeeded in frustrating their hosts.

Team Performances and Notable Absences

Denmark had to cope without Christian Eriksen, who missed out on selection following his release from Manchester United this summer. However, they were boosted by the return of Andreas Christensen, who made his first appearance for the national team in 14 months after recovering from injury.

The result comes as a minor setback for Denmark, who have established themselves as a formidable force in international football, with their only recent defeats coming against Spain and Portugal. Their impressive record includes qualification for five of the last seven World Cups and nine of the previous 11 European Championships.

Looking Ahead

The European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will continue through November 2025, with play-offs scheduled for March 2026. For Scotland, while they remain underdogs, this valuable point in Copenhagen could provide crucial momentum in their quest to reach their first World Cup finals since 1998.