Scotland will face Morocco in Boston on Friday in Group C, days after defeating Haiti 1-0 in their opener. Morocco have emerged as a genuine tournament threat, drawing 1-1 with five-time champions Brazil in their group stage debut.
Morocco took an early lead when midfielder Ismael Saibari raced onto a pass from Brahim Diaz and finished delicately over Alisson Becker. Brazil equalized through Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr before half-time, with Morocco holding firm despite Brazil's improved second-half pressure.
Former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet noted after the Brazil match that Morocco "looked better than Brazil and their gameplan is working better." Former Morocco midfielder Hassan Kachloul praised their unity and work rate, saying players worked together and gave maximum effort despite fatigue after an hour.
Scotland's group progression likely hinges on drawing against either Morocco or Brazil, with heavy defeats to avoid. A victory over Friday's opponents would substantially improve Scotland's qualification chances from Group C.