What's the score with watching Scotland in the World Cup?

Scotland's first game in the World Cup finals for almost 30 years takes place in the early hours of Sunday.

The match against Haiti kicks off in Boston at 0200 BST, meaning it will probably be almost four in the morning by the time fans know whether Scotland's return to the tournament has been as triumphal as they hope.

Pubs, clubs and fan zones have been given special licences to open and serve alcohol during the night.

Here's how you can watch Scotland's World Cup matches.

All Scotland's group stage games are being shown on free-to-air TV channels.

The Haiti game will be shown live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

It starts at 0200 BST on Sunday 14 June.

The second game against Morocco on Friday 19 June at 2300 BST will be shown on ITV and STV.

And the final group game against Brazil will be on BBC channels at 2300 on Wednesday 24 June.

A decision on who covers Scotland's games if they reach the later stages of the competition will be taken after the group matches.

Generally, the answer is yes.

Almost all of Scotland's councils, who approve extensions to licensing rules, have confirmed that pubs and clubs will be allowed to stay open to show the games despite them often continuing beyond normal closing times.

Some of the councils have stipulated pubs must close half an hour after the final whistle in order to ensure that drinking does not continue after the game.

East Ayrshire Council said there was no blanket extension for all pubs but it has approved licences for many that applied to stay open.

North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils also said extensions were considered on a case-by-case basis.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in the Western Isles is also taking this approach.

Falkirk Council said it would approve applications for extensions on an individual pub basis for the Haiti game, which kicks off at 02:00, but there would be a general extension for the other two games which begin at 23:00.

There are very few fan zones but across Scotland many large venues will be showing the games.

In Glasgow, the OVO Hydro, Saint Luke's and SWG3 will all be televising the matches on large screens. These events, and similar ones across Scotland, require tickets to be purchased in advance.

In Aberdeen, the city's Beach Ballroom will host a World Cup fan zone and in Forfar the Reid Hall will show Scotland's opening game against Haiti.

In Fife, the Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy will be transformed into a World Cup fan zone and in Edinburgh, the Gyle Shopping Centre will show all three of Scotland's group games on a large screen.

In Dundee, LiveHouse will be transformed into a huge indoor fan zone with a capacity of 4,500 people.

In Falkirk, a fan zone will be held at Falkirk Stadium, with space for more than 600 fans.

Inverness Leisure centre will also show all three of Scotland's group games.

The TRNSMT festival in Glasgow has been granted a special licence to show the Morocco game at 23:00 on Friday 19 June, after the bands have finished.

Scotland booked its place in the 2026 World Cup after an extraordinary 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden in November.

Just weeks later, First Minister John Swinney said Monday 15 June - the day after Scotland's first game finishes at 04:00 - should be designated as a national bank holiday.

There is no law requiring businesses, such as banks, to close on bank holidays and it has been left to firms and other organisations outside the public sector to decide if their staff should have it.

Just five of Scotland's 32 councils say they are giving the public holiday - Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire.

This means all the schools in those areas will be closed as well as other council services.

North Ayrshire had initially approved the day off, but three councillors called in the decision saying it would cost the council more than £1m in lost productivity.

All of Scotland's health boards have approved 15 June as a day off.

That means a total of 237,200 public sector workers are entitled to take the holiday - 74,000 council workers and 163,200 NHS workers.

Joining them will be about 16,650 people who work for the Scottish government.

No day off, no party, right?

Local authorities that have rejected the holiday would strongly argue they are not being party poopers but acting responsibility.

Many point out it would mean additional costs at a time when they are having to make unpopular cuts to services.

Highland councillors said giving the day off could cost the local authority an estimated £150,000.

They agreed to reject the proposal after arguing the holiday could have an impact on essential services such as bin collections and schools.

City of Edinburgh Council also rejected the one-day break.

The local authority cited concerns over an estimated £350,000 cost for the holiday.

A report to Inverclyde Council suggested financial implications would be about £72,000, with an additional £9,000 then going towards free school meal holiday payments for eligible carers.

It added that "while not a direct cost" the productivity losses would amount to £610,000.

The Federation of Small Businesses Scotland said employers would try to be as flexible as they always were with time off.

Director Colin Borland said: "But, realistically, if you have customers to look after and orders to fulfil, you can't simply shut down and give everyone the day off.

"It will be a particularly busy time for lots of small businesses and self-employed people – so it will probably be all hands on deck for many bars, shops, restaurants, taxi firms and more."