Naismith backs Scotland to make history and reach World Cup knockouts
Scotland assistant coach Steven Naismith says he is "very optimistic" the team can create history by progressing beyond the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.
The national side have never reached the knockout rounds of a major tournament in men’s football.
Steve Clarke’s men face a challenging task in Group C, having been drawn alongside five-time winners Brazil, 2022 semi-finalists Morocco and Haiti.
However, with just 100 days until the tournament begins, Naismith believes the current squad possesses the quality to break that long-standing hoodoo.
"If I’m honest, if you looked at the teams involved and our squad and where it’s at, before the draw even came out, I had a feeling that our aim… is that we can definitely progress," he told Sky Sports News.
The former Rangers and Everton forward insists the ambition extends beyond merely participating in the finals.
"I definitely feel we’ve got what it takes within the group to progress and be the first team to do that at the World Cup."
‘Squad of leaders’ ready for challenge
Naismith, who earned 51 caps for his country, highlights the maturity of the current crop of players as a decisive factor.
He believes the experience of those playing at elite European clubs will be vital against diverse opposition.
"What we’ve got is a squad of leaders who are at their prime, playing at big clubs to guide the potential younger guys in the squad as well," Naismith added.
The coaching staff are keen for the senior players to cement their legacy this summer.
"The next step, and what would be really nice for some of the guys, is to finish their career to be the ones that push through the group stage and into the knockout stages of a World Cup."
Preparation in Charlotte
The Scottish FA have confirmed the team will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina for the duration of the group phase.
They will utilise the state-of-the-art training facilities belonging to MLS side Charlotte FC.
Naismith spent months scouting locations on the East Coast of the United States to find the optimal environment.
He acknowledged that adapting to the climate and logistics will be essential for success.
"The heat and the travel are going to be things that every country that is there is going to need to deal [with]," he explained.
Before travelling to North America, Scotland will finalise their preparations with warm-up fixtures against Japan and the Ivory Coast later this month.
