Scotland vs Belarus Prediction & Betting Tips (12 October)

Scotland and Belarus meet in a pivotal World Cup 2026 qualifier, with both sides eager to shift momentum after contrasting starts to their campaigns.

Scotland enter the clash with cautious optimism after a gritty 0-0 draw against Denmark, a result that showcased their defensive resilience under Steve Clarke’s guidance. The manager is expected to tweak his lineup slightly, favoring a more attacking setup against Belarus. Che Adams remains a focal point in the forward line, while midfielders like John McGinn and Billy Gilmour are tasked with dictating tempo. Clarke’s squad has shown flashes of brilliance in recent months, including wins over Croatia and Poland, and they’ll be keen to build on that pedigree in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary—the neutral venue for this fixture due to UEFA sanctions on Belarus.

Belarus, meanwhile, are licking their wounds after a bruising 5-1 defeat to Greece. Coach Carlos Alos faces mounting pressure to stabilize a defense that has leaked nine goals in two matches. Veteran Alyaksandr Martynovich may be replaced by Zakhar Volkov, while German Barkovskiy—who scored a consolation goal off the bench last time out—is tipped to start ahead of the inexperienced Trofim Melnichenko. Despite a brief run of form earlier this year, Belarus have never qualified for a World Cup and now face an uphill battle in Group C, sitting at the bottom of the standings.

With Scotland ranked 50 places above Belarus and carrying the psychological edge from their recent performances, the Tartan Army are expected to dominate possession and create more chances. However, Belarus’s desperation could see them snatch a goal, especially if Barkovskiy finds space. Our prediction leans toward a narrow but decisive outcome: Scotland to edge Belarus 2-1, securing their first win of the campaign and keeping their qualification hopes alive.