Denmark missed the chance to seal World Cup qualification with a game to spare after they were held to a dramatic 2–2 draw by Belarus on Saturday in Copenhagen as Scotland keep hopes alive despite a 3-2 defeat in Greece.
Mikkel Damsgaard’s first-half strike had given the Group C leaders a firm grip on the contest, especially with Scotland trailing in Greece.
But the match at Parken Stadium took a stunning turn when Valery Gromyko and Nikita Demchenko scored within three minutes to silence the home supporters.
Gustav Isaksen pulled Denmark level with 11 minutes remaining, sparking renewed urgency from the Danes.
However, Belarus, ranked 103rd in the world and without a point prior to this match , held firm through seven minutes of stoppage time to earn their first result of the qualification campaign.
The draw means Denmark travel to Glasgow on Tuesday with just a one-point cushion over Scotland, setting up a decisive showdown for automatic qualification.
Meanwhile in Piraeus, moments after Scotland’s 3–2 defeat to Greece, a roar erupted from the travelling Tartan Army when news filtered through of Denmark’s slip-up.
The celebrations that followed Ben Doak’s and Ryan Christie’s goals were loud, but the reaction to the full-time score in Copenhagen was filled with relief and renewed belief.
Belarus’ unlikely heroics have thrown the group wide open again. What seemed a lost cause for Scotland — who trailed 3–0 at one stage in Greece — has been revived ahead of a massive night at Hampden.
In a dramatic evening of football, action in Greece and Denmark unfolded like a sporting epic, filled with tension, twists and unexpected turns.
For Scotland, the mission is now clear; beat Denmark on Tuesday, and a place at the 2026 World Cup will be theirs.
