Scottish Football Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Scott McTominay left a struggling Man United to become Serie A’s Most Valuable Player, win the Scudetto for Napoli and be nominated for the Ballon D’Or - all in one year. Was he this good all along? Is he finally getting the respect he always deserved? This episode of Football Daily, hosted by football writer and Copa 90 presenter Eugene Noble, goes right back to the start of Scott’s incredible story and explores the making of McTominay: How he grew from the Man Utd academy, to being taken under José Mourinho's wing, to performing on the international stage. We speak to coaches and players who knew him at the academy, like Paul McGuinness and James Weir, as well as podcasters, pundits and fans like Jay Motty, Joe Fischetti and Umberto Bernardo, who have tracked his career from Old Trafford to the Neapolitan sun. We also hear from football journalists like Mina Rzouki about how Scott has transformed under Antonio Conte, as well as Scottish Legend and commentator Pat Nevin about how he is becoming a symbol for the nation in the blue shirt of Scotland. We even speak to Scotland head coach Steve Clarke about Scott’s crucial role to the international team and a conversation that sparked Scott’s career back into life. In 2026, McTominay is facing his biggest season yet: Napoli have a title to defend. They’re back in the champions league. And Scotland have their world cup qualifier campaign already underway. So the question isn’t just how Scott McTominay got here - it’s how much higher can he go?

After 28 years, Scotland are back in the World Cup finals, with manager Steve Clarke guiding the national team through qualification and the most dramatic climax at Hampden Park.

Looking ahead to the weekend fixtures. With Ray Bradshaw, Scott Allan and Andy Halliday.

How have Scotland become a goal machine? Is John McGinn a guaranteed starter, and is Ben Gannon-Doak the finished article now? With Jonathan Sutherland, Robbie Neilson and Ryan Flynn.

Richard Gordon is joined by Callum Davidson and Tony Docherty in Glasgow, and Liam McLeod and James McFadden in New York, to look ahead to the World Cup kicking off on Thursday.

Willie Miller, Pat Nevin and Andy Halliday debate Steve Clarke's considerations when choosing his starting 11 for their World Cup opener against Haiti in Boston next Saturday.

Scotland’s World Cup countdown continues, but what does Steve Clarke really need from the final warm‑up against Bolivia in New Jersey: a result or simple survival in punishing conditions? How close should he go to his starting XI, and which key players need protected before the tournament begins? Is the goalkeeper jersey Craig Gordon’s to lose, or has Angus Gunn done enough to stake his claim? Has Lawrence Shankland forced his way into the conversation to start, or is his future impact still best felt from the bench? In the women's game - how crucial are the upcoming qualifiers against Israel and Hungary, and can leaders like Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert guide Scotland over the line? Finally, did St Mirren make the right call by backing Craig McLeish, and what can his appointment mean for the club’s direction next season?

We ask what the actual experience of being at a World Cup is like for players as Scotland’s Men prepare for their return after a 28-year absence. With Ray Bradshaw, Ryan McGowan and Craig Telfer.

In June 1998, Scotland kicked off the World Cup in Paris against the defending champions, Brazil. For the fans that were there, it was a day that they would never forget - and one that’s become Scottish football folklore after years of heartbreak. Rick Edwards is joined by Gordon, Paul and Iain to hear about that halcyon summer following their team across France and what marked the end of an era.

You can find the whole series here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p02nrsln

Is it too big? Is it too expensive? What will the experience of the 2026 World Cup be for players and fans? Plus, we get reaction to Haiti's friendly win over New Zealand and an update on the Celtic manager search. With Ray Bradshaw and Stephen McGowan.