In fact, the Tartan Army haven't won a game at a major international tournament since 1996. Even most recently at the 2024 Euros, one of their two goals came from Scott McTominay, while the other was an own goal by Germany's Antonio Rudiger.
Things are looking up after an impressive qualifying campaign saw Steve Clarke's side tally up 13 goals in six games - but they will need more for the upcoming World Cup.
Scotland have been drawn in a tough group with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti but will fancy their chances of at least finishing as one of the best third-placed sides, particularly if they can find the net regularly, while a spot in the top two isn't unrealistic either if results go their way.
Clarke has turned to Southampton striker Ross Stewart to help with that, with the target man's inclusion coming as a surprise four years after his only two prior international caps.
A curious career so far
Stewart has certainly had to battle to get to this point in his career. The 29-year-old started out in the Scottish Junior Leagues and got scouted for senior football in 2016, but only signed for Albion Rovers after his father and supporters club members banded together to help pay his £1,500 transfer fee.
He quickly rose through the ranks in professional football and earned a move to League One Sunderland in January 2021. A bedding-in period was followed by 26 goals the next season as the striker fired the Black Cats to promotion, and his debut campaign in the Championship saw Stewart net 10 goals in 13 games before suffering a season-ending injury.
That run of form in the North East earned him the nickname 'Lochness Drogba', for his similarities in style to the famous Chelsea forward.
Injuries continued to plague his career in the years that followed - which is widely accepted as the biggest contributor to his lack of Scotland appearances.
Southampton took a £12 million punt on the striker in 2023, but he has only really made his way back to full fitness and form in 2026 - perfect timing for the upcoming World Cup.
After breaking back into the side in January, Stewart bagged 11 goals and two assists in all competitions.
Unique style of play
Standing at six feet and two inches, the obvious aspect of Stewart's game is his ability to win headers and hold up the ball.
The striker is dominant in the air and stands out in both boxes as a result, with his goalscoring threat from set-pieces complemented by how effective he is at also defending balls coming into his own box - two areas that will be important for Scotland this summer.
Of his 12 Southampton goals, five have been headers, while 11 out of 40 for Sunderland were scored with his head. That aerial presence will be a valuable tool in North America, particularly with his role likely being off the bench later in games.
Stewart's hold-up play will also come in handy, with the likes of McTominay and John McGinn playing off the striker high up the pitch. His big frame means that defenders will be drawn to him, opening up spaces elsewhere for Scotland's other attacking outlets.
The traits mentioned will work well with a direct style of play that Scotland might want to take up later in matches if they are chasing a game or looking to hold on to a lead.
Despite his frame, the striker also possesses some impressive speed and a keen eye for goal with his feet - with Stewart capable of scoring from distance as well as sniffing out opportunities inside the six-yard box.
Looking at it statistically, the 29-year-old averaged a goal every 122 minutes in the Championship this season and boasted a superb shot conversion rate of 33.33 per cent, meaning he was scoring one of every three shots he took.
As is often crucial in tournament football, he is reliable from the penalty spot, too, having scored 12 of the 14 taken throughout his career.
He is equally capable of scoring big goals in big games - netting in Southampton's recent play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough, their FA Cup triumph over Arsenal earlier this year and Sunderland's League One play-off final win in 2022.
What are the manager's thoughts?
Those big goals were part of the thinking behind manager Clarke's decision to bring him into the squad.
"Ross, obviously, was in my squad a few years ago, showing that he can come up to this level, was good in the squad. He's had a terrible run of injury," the coach said.
"From January onwards, he's had a rich vein of form where he's shown that he can score big goals in big games.
"The Arsenal game in the cup, he shows he can have an impact in games of that level.
"The World Cup will be a very high level as well. He's shown that he can score from the bench."
That would indicate that Stewart's main role in the squad would be to have an impact late in games from the bench - which is probably what his skillset is best suited to, especially if Scotland are chasing a result against Brazil, Morocco or Haiti.
Scotland's other attacking options
Scotland possesses plenty of options up top in their World Cup squad with five players jostling for at most two spots in the side.
Lawrence Shankland seems to be the favoured option at the moment after netting twice in a 4-1 friendly win over Curacao, with Torino's Che Adams and Ipswich's George Hirst also contenders from the bench alongside Charlton's Lyndon Dykes.
The Hearts forward netted 16 goals in the Scottish Premiership last season, the most of any player in Clarke's squad this summer.
Shankland and Adams seem the most likely to make an impact at the World Cup given their differing skill sets, but as an option from the bench, Stewart sticks out as the obvious candidate to turn to.
Curiously, Hull City striker Oli McBurnie was left out of the squad despite netting 18 goals and providing seven assists as the Tigers earned promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs.
His absence is a strange one, but has opened the door for Stewart to make an impact at Scotland's first World Cup since 1998.