Scotland assistant coach Leanne Ross has expressed strong confidence in the national team's capability to reach the upcoming global tournament, maintaining that the current playing group possesses the necessary attributes to successfully navigate the play-offs for Brazil 2027.
Ross, who never featured at a World Cup during her own playing career, is now lending her expertise to help steer the national side through the rigorous qualification pathway.
The coaching staff's assessment highlights a belief in the depth and talent currently available within the Scottish setup as preparations continue for the demanding qualification fixtures ahead.
Securing a spot at Brazil 2027 remains the ultimate objective for the squad, with the play-off route identified as the crucial hurdle that Ross and the management team believe this group can overcome.
While the technical staff have made their stance clear regarding the squad's potential, the exact challenges of the upcoming play-off fixtures and the definitive path to qualification continue to develop as the campaign progresses.
SokaLive analysis
The assertion from the coaching staff that this squad can negotiate the play-offs arrives at a critical juncture for the national team. Recent results in SokaLive's database show a mixed run of form, highlighted by a 2-0 victory against North Macedonia counterbalanced by a 3-0 defeat to Switzerland and a 1-2 reverse against Slovenia. These inconsistent scorelines underline the defensive and offensive tuning required if Scotland are to successfully navigate high-stakes knockout football.
For Leanne Ross, whose own playing days did not include a World Cup appearance, guiding the current generation to Brazil 2027 represents a significant professional milestone. The ability of the coaching ticket to translate belief into on-field execution will dictate whether Scotland can bridge the gap between competitive performances and tournament qualification.