It finally felt real. Scotland are about to go to the World Cup.

Watching our names finally get called in the draw in Washington felt surreal, albeit a little déjà vu.

Now that the draw is finally over, the race to book flights, hotels and more is about to begin – but what else do we need to know about the World Cup?

Here are those key (but not so crucial) questions answered as Scotland return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1998…

A reminder of who Scotland will face

For those of you who remember Scotland’s last World Cup, there’s bound to be a wry smile on your face when you watch Scotland play against the five-time World Cup winners. Brazil and MoroccoOnce again – Steve Clark sure did it!

At the end of Group C Haiti Hat drawn – Scotland’s first opponent.

Clark: We’ll bring a little magic

Head coach Clark is the only national team coach to lead the men’s team to three major competitions, and the first head coach to enter the World Cup in 27 years.

Asked about the magic of facing Brazil, Clark told BBC Scotland: “Hopefully we can bring a little bit of that magic too. It’s great to play them.”

“Obviously, if you go back to 1998, that was a long time ago, Brazil and Morocco were both in the group, so fate was a bit strange.

“It’s going to be difficult for Haiti as a pot four team. They won the qualifying part easily. But we also managed to win ours. So come on.”

Clark added: “The draw is fantastic. One of the biggest things in my mind is that there are no European teams. So we’re going to be playing three top teams from three different continents in the world and that’s what the World Cup is about.”

Where and when will Scotland play?

Well, the short answer is we don’t quite know yet. This will be decided on Saturday.

All we know is that Clark’s team will face Haiti on Saturday, June 13, either in Boston or at New Jersey-New York Stadium.

Scotland will face 2022 semi-finalists Morocco in Boston or Philadelphia on Friday, June 19, with their final group game against Brazil in Atlanta or Miami on Wednesday, June 24.

If you thought last summer’s European Championship was the trip of a lifetime, well, this is it this A once in a lifetime trip.

The 2026 championship will be held in 16 cities in three North American countries: USA, Canada and Mexico.

This is the first time a World Cup has been hosted by three countries – and we have chosen our major finals well indeed.

Last year some 200,000 Tartan troops occupied Germany. However, you won’t be able to drive, bike or even walk to the games next year. Once you cross the big pond in the middle, there are thousands of miles between cities. It takes time, planning, and some coins behind the couch.

So what does the route to the finals look like?

Those with a glass-half-full attitude might consider advancing from the group stage in a major final for the first time. For people like me, having dreams is the right thing to do, isn’t it?

So, here’s a look at who Scotland’s most likely opponents are to reach the final, based on the highest-ranked teams likely to advance…

If Scotland win the group…

Round of 32 – June 29: Scotland vs Japan, Houston

Round of 16 – July 5: Scotland v Senegal, East Rutherford

Quarter-finals – July 11: Scotland vs England, Miami

Semi-finals – July 15: Scotland vs Argentina, Atalanta

Final – July 19: Scotland vs Spain, East Rutherford

If Scotland finish as group runners-up…

Round of 32 – 29 June: Scotland vs Netherlands, Guadalupe

Round of 16 – July 4: Scotland vs Italy, Houston

Quarter-finals – 9 July: Scotland vs France, Foxborough

Semifinals – July 14: Scotland vs Spain, Arlington

Final – July 19: Scotland vs Argentina, East Rutherford

If Scotland finish third in the group…

It could also take Scotland all the way. But due to the complex nature of how the third-place qualifiers work, there are currently too many potential routes to consider that won’t be finalized until after the group stage.

Where are the tickets?

This is where it can get interesting. FIFA will use dynamic pricing for the first time.

With fees fluctuating based on demand, expect ticket prices to be eye-popping, especially for the most high-profile games.

FIFA has confirmed that 8% of tickets for each game will be allocated to fans per team by national associations such as the Scottish Football Association (without dynamic pricing), however, this will only cover a few thousand fans.

Football’s governing body said the cheapest tickets for the group stages start at 45 pounds ($60). But the most expensive ticket for the final is £5,094 ($6,730).

There will also be a sales window after the draws from December 11 to January 13, and for buyers of random draws, ticket applications will be based on a fixed price.

Don’t forget FIFA’s official ticket scalping platform, not that it’s going to be cheap. Tickets can be sold on the platform, with prices set by the seller, and FIFA collects a 15% commission from sellers and a 15% commission from buyers.

Does Tartan Army need a visa?

If you managed to get your tickets, or you just want to soak up the atmosphere, there’s another piece of paperwork!

You need a visa – also called an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) – to enter the United States.

US President Donald Trump said fans coming to games will be able to get interviews more quickly.

He also launched “FIFA Pass,” allowing those who purchased World Cup tickets through FIFA to get expedited visa appointments.

A visa is not required to travel to Mexico, while an eTA is required to travel to Canada.

Regardless, if you want to see Steve Clark running around New York New Jersey Stadium with the trophy in hand after the final, book your ESTA.

Where is our World Cup song?

“Kenny McLean on the midfield line” anyone? Maybe it’s just singing in the stands for the fans – or for me it’s singing at work, at home, in the gym and in bed beat Denmark.

In a few months, when we head west, the pros will be best equipped to give us some songs to sing about.

Let’s think back to the last time Scotland qualified for the World Cup, in 1998 when Del Amitri sang “Don’t Come Home Too Soon”.

This time, who will get the honor? The Proclaimers, Lewis Capaldi, Gerry Cinnamon, Paolo Nutini or even Rod Stewart? Or you might prefer Susan Boyle, Amy Macdonald or Lulu, and don’t forget the likes of The Fratellis, Deacon Blue and Runrig.

Either way, it’s going to be a blast and we’ll all be learning these words for the next few months!

What about the ball that will hit the back of the net?

We’ve seen the new Scotland home kit That How about a win over Denmark, but Scott McTominay will smash the new ball home with an overhead kick, or Kenny McLean’s shot from mid-off? again?

The official match ball is made by Adidas and is called Trionda, which means “three waves” when translated from Spanish.

It features a red, green and blue color scheme that pays homage to the three host countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Adidas claims its “ball-connecting technology” will help pass data to VAR and aid decision-making through artificial intelligence.

Anything happening in March?

There’s something called the play-offs, but we don’t need to worry about that, right?

There are still some games to look forward to. Clark brought his team together and prepared for the World Cup.

A lot of familiar faces are expected to show up, but this is also the last chance for anyone else hoping to get a seat on the plane. Harvey McBarnes, anyone?

This will be the penultimate chance for fans to see their heroes again before heading to the World Cup. Did we mention Scotland already qualified?