Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean scored injury-time wonder-goals to help Scotland to a 4-2 win over Denmark on Tuesday and book their place at the 2026 World Cup, while Spain also secured their place with a 2-2 draw against Turkey.
Belgium romped to a 7-0 win over Liechtenstein to qualify for next year’s competition and Switzerland and Austria managed draws to guarantee their places in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Scotland’s late action in Glasgow sees Steve Clarke’s team qualify for the global showpiece for the first time since 1998.
Level at 2-2 with the clock going past 90 minutes, Denmark were through to the World Cup as Group C winners until Tierney curled in a sumptuous finish from range with three minutes to play in injury time.
McLean then sealed the win after lifting the ball over Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who was well off his line, from the halfway line on the 98th minute.
“That just sums up this squad, never say die. We just keep going right to the end and one of the craziest games,” Scotland captain Andy Robertson told the BBC.
“We put the country through it, but I’m sure it’s worth it. We’re going to the World Cup.”
Earlier, Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay had given the hosts a third-minute lead with a towering overhead kick.
McTominay’s clubmate Rasmus Hojlund equalised for Denmark from the spot just shy of the hour, before his side went down to 10 as Rasmus Kristensen picked up a second booking.
An anxious Hampden Park let out a roar of ecstasy and relief in the 78th minute as Lawrence Shankland turned in from close range.
But Denmark struck back again through Patrick Dorgu four minutes later before Tierney and McLean stole the headlines.
Denmark will now be in Thursday’s draw for the European play-offs, which will take place next March.
Switzerland will be at a sixth successive World Cup finals after a 1-1 draw in Pristina against Kosovo.
With the Swiss needing to avoid a defeat by six goals to seal top spot, they rarely looked troubled as Ruben Vargas handed them the lead in the 47th minute before Florent Muslija equalised.
‘Bitter-sweet’
Euro 2024 champions Spain were on the same end of the results against Turkey in Seville but they never looked like going down to the seven-goal defeat that would have sent the visitors through instead.
Dani Olmo gave Spain the lead but Deniz Gul and Salih Ozcan replied for Turkey as the hosts dropped their first goals of the qualification campaign.
Mikel Oyarzabal responded after the hour mark to extend Spain’s unbeaten sequence though.
“We wanted to finish with a win and a clean sheet, so it’s bitter-sweet… but we’re happy to qualify for the World Cup,” Olmo said on TVE.
Michael Gregoritsch shoved home a 77th-minute equaliser to grab a 1-1 draw for Austria against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which confirmed Ralf Rangnick’s team a first World Cup trip in 28 years.
“I can’t believe it; we made it! I have been trying to reach the World Cup for 18 years. Finally now, at the end of my career, we got there. I can’t wait,” 36-year-old Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic told UEFA.com
Haris Tabakovic’s early goal had looked as if it might be enough for the visitors to snatch first place from under Austria’s noses until Gregoritsch condemned Bosnia to the play-offs instead.
Belgium, who were semifinalists at the last Euros, strolled into the draw for the World Cup with a Jeremy Doku-inspired thumping of Liechtenstein.
The Manchester City winger notched a brace in Liege as Charles De Ketelaere also bagged a brace and Hans Vanaken, Brandon Mechele and Alexis Saelemaekers added to the rout.
In Group J’s other match, second-placed Wales also scored seven as they defeated North Macedonia 7-1 with Harry Wilson netting a hat-trick of set-piece goals instead.
North Macedonia can nonetheless look forward to a play-off spot courtesy of their Nations League showing.
Romania, who beat San Marino by the same scoreline, will also have the opportunity to reach the World Cup thanks to the Nations League after finishing third in Group H as well.
Sweden, who picked up just their second point of the qualifying campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Slovenia, progressed in the same fashion instead.
The 16-team European play-offs will give another four teams from the continent a route to North America next year.