<P> Scotland qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, their fourth in succession, in traumatic circumstances . The squad went into their last qualification match against Wales needing a point to progress to a qualifying playoff against Australia . With only nine minutes remaining and Wales leading 1--0, Scotland were awarded a penalty kick, which was calmly scored by Davie Cooper . The 1--1 draw meant that Scotland progressed, but as the players and fans celebrated, national coach Jock Stein suffered a heart attack and died shortly afterwards . His assistant Alex Ferguson took over . Scotland qualified by winning 2--0 against Australia in a two - leg playoff, but were again drawn into a group of death, this time with Uruguay, Denmark and West Germany . Scotland were eliminated from the tournament with just one point from their three matches, a goalless draw with Uruguay . </P> <P> Scotland qualified for their fifth consecutive World Cup in 1990 by finishing second in their qualifying group, ahead of France . Scotland were drawn in a group with Costa Rica, Sweden, and Brazil, but the Scots lost 1--0 to Costa Rica . While they recovered to beat Sweden 2--1 in their second game, they lost to Brazil in their third match 1--0 and were once again eliminated after the first round . Goalkeeper Jim Leighton fumbled a shot that allowed Brazil to score the only goal . </P> <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> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th_colspan="7"> Final Tournament </Th> <Th_colspan="7"> Qualification </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Round </Th> <Th> GP </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> GF </Th> <Th> GA </Th> <Th> Round </Th> <Th> GP </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> GF </Th> <Th> GA </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td_colspan="14"> Did not enter </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1934 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1938 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Withdrew </Td> <Td> Group--2nd </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Group--2nd </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Group--1st </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1962 </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Did not qualify </Td> <Td> Group--2nd </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1966 </Td> <Td> Group--2nd </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> Group--2nd </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Group--1st </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Group--1st </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Group--1st </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Play - off </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Group--2nd </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Did not qualify </Td> <Td> Group--4th </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Round 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Group--2nd </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Did not qualify </Td> <Td> Group--3rd </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Group--3rd </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Group--3rd </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Group--4th </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Group--3rd </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2022 </Td> <Td_colspan="14"> TBD </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Total </Td> <Td> 8 / 21 </Td> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> 41 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 125 </Td> <Td> 62 </Td> <Td> 28 </Td> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td> 192 </Td> <Td> 136 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When did scotland qualify for the world cup