Former Scotland manager Craig Levein believes Steve Clarke faces a genuine tactical dilemma heading into Wednesday's Group C encounter with Brazil at Miami Stadium, with qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stages still firmly within Scotland's reach.

Scotland enter the fixture in third place in Group C on three points after a 1-0 defeat to Morocco in their second match on Friday. Ismael Saibari struck after just 70 seconds to settle that contest, leaving Clarke's side needing to navigate one of the most high-profile games in the nation's recent history.

A win would guarantee progress

Victory against Brazil would secure Scotland a place in the last 32 for the first time at a major tournament. However, the mathematics of the expanded format mean even defeat is not necessarily fatal — Scotland currently sit second among all third-placed sides, and the top eight third-placed teams advance to the knockout rounds.

That arithmetic is precisely what creates Clarke's dilemma, according to Levein. A narrow defeat, such as a 1-0 loss, could still be enough to go through — but a heavy reverse would likely end Scotland's campaign.