<P> Craig Brown guided Scotland to qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup , finishing as the best runners - up . Scotland were drawn against holders Brazil in the opening game of the World Cup . John Collins scored from the penalty spot to level the score at 1 -- 1 , but a Tom Boyd own goal led to a 2 -- 1 defeat . Scotland drew their next game 1 -- 1 with Norway in Bordeaux , but the final match against Morocco ended in a 3 -- 0 defeat . Scotland have not appeared at the World Cup since . </P>
when did scotland last qualify for world cup
1998