What happened: Steve Clarke has resigned as Scotland head coach following the team's group-stage exit at the World Cup, ending a seven-year tenure. The 62-year-old informed his players at the squad hotel in Charlotte on Saturday evening, immediately after elimination from a group featuring Brazil, Morocco and Haiti was confirmed. Clarke said he had always intended to leave if Scotland failed to advance, having reached that stage across three tournaments.

Why it matters: The departure comes just a month after Clarke signed a new four-year contract intended to carry through Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup, leaving the Scottish FA to begin a search far earlier than planned. Clarke guided Scotland to back-to-back European Championships and a first World Cup, the federation's most sustained run of major-tournament qualification in a generation. His exit reopens questions about a side that has long struggled to find quality in the final third.

What to watch: Attention turns to the Scottish FA's succession plan and how quickly a permanent replacement is named. Captain Andy Robertson and the core of long-serving players who came up under Clarke now face a transition. Watch for the federation's timeline ahead of the next qualifying cycle.