Scotland kick off in the 2026 World Cup against Haiti in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Steve Clarke's side play their first match of the tournament, in Scotland's first appearance in the finals in 28 years, in Boston at the Gillette Stadium.
And the opener for Scotland has been labelled as a must-win fixture if they are to qualify for the knockout stage of the World Cup.
In the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams in every group will advance, with the eight best third-placed sides also moving into the knockout stage.
Therefore, Scotland can progress should they finish first, second or potentially third in Group C.
Here's everything you need to know about how Scotland can qualify from the group stage...
What are FIFA guidelines on World Cup knockout stage qualification?
FIFA’s official guidelines on qualification from the group stage read as follows: “Every team will face each of their group opponents once, with three points awarded for a win and one apiece for a draw.
“The two teams with the most points in each group will progress to the Round of 32, where they will be joined by the eight best third-placed sides.”
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What does that mean for Scotland?
Well, Scotland know that they will be straight through if they finish first or second in Group C.
Realistically, few will have Scotland tipped to top the group with Brazil and Morocco the other national teams in the four-team group.
However, finishing second or third is another avenue into the knockout stage. The simpler being finishing second - but that would mean picking up a result against Haiti and also against Morocco or Brazil and relying on other results between the teams in Group C.
The third route would be advancing as the best-placed third-placed team.
How could Scotland advance in third?
If Scotland finish third, then they'd need to better the points and/or goal difference of four of the other third-placed finishers in the World Cup.
According to Scotland's Coefficient, Scotland would have a 99.5 per cent chance of progressing beyond the group stage with four points, which would mean one win and one draw, However, it is possible even if unlikely to finish bottom of a group with four points.
If Scotland were to finish with three points and a plus two goal difference, then they'd have a 99 per cent chance to advance. Even an even goal difference of zero and three points and it'd be 96 per cent chance to go through.
If you finish third with three points and a minus-three goal difference, then it's a 50 per cent shot at progression.
Is Scotland vs Haiti a must-win?
Scotland against Haiti is the most obvious opportunity for Scotland to pick up three points. But, even a loss wouldn't see Scotland immediately eliminated even if it made things much more difficult.
Steve Clarke's side would, though, then need some major results against either Brazil and Morocco, or even both.
Realistically, victory over Haiti is the clear route to possible progression for Scotland. A win, and with a healthy margin of victory would make qualification much easier - with narrow defeats to Brazil and Morocco still likely to be enough to advance.
