Steve Clarke named Scotland’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 19, 2026, sending the Tartan Army back to the global stage for the first time in 28 years. Andy Robertson captains the side. Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 43, claims a place in goal, while 19-year-old Findlay Curtis joins as the squad’s newest name after earning his first cap only in March.
Scotland won UEFA Group C with four wins, a draw, and one defeat, scoring 13 goals across six matches to qualify directly. Seven Premier League players travel to North America, headlined by captain Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay of Napoli as the midfield talisman.
Group C at the 2026 World Cup reunites Scotland with Brazil and Morocco, the same opponents who ended their 1998 campaign, with CONCACAF qualifier Haiti completing the group.
This is your full Scotland World Cup Squad 2026 list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the tournament.
Scotland 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Craig Gordon | Hearts | 43 |
| GK | Angus Gunn | Nottingham Forest | 30 |
| GK | Liam Kelly | Rangers | 36 |
| DF | Grant Hanley | Hibernian | 34 |
| DF | Jack Hendry | Al-Ettifaq | 31 |
| DF | Aaron Hickey | Brentford | 23 |
| DF | Dominic Hyam | Wrexham | 31 |
| DF | Scott McKenna | Dinamo Zagreb | 29 |
| DF | Nathan Patterson | Everton | 24 |
| DF | Anthony Ralston | Celtic | 26 |
| DF | Andy Robertson (C) | Liverpool | 32 |
| DF | John Souttar | Rangers | 29 |
| DF | Kieran Tierney | Celtic | 29 |
| MF | Ryan Christie | Bournemouth | 31 |
| MF | Findlay Curtis | Kilmarnock (loan, Rangers) | 19 |
| MF | Lewis Ferguson | Bologna | 27 |
| MF | Ben Gannon-Doak | Bournemouth | 20 |
| MF | Tyler Fletcher | Manchester United | 19 |
| MF | John McGinn | Aston Villa | 31 |
| MF | Kenny McLean | Norwich City | 34 |
| MF | Scott McTominay | Napoli | 29 |
| FW | Che Adams | Torino | 29 |
| FW | Lyndon Dykes | Charlton Athletic | 30 |
| FW | George Hirst | Ipswich Town | 27 |
| FW | Lawrence Shankland | Hearts | 30 |
| FW | Ross Stewart | Southampton | 29 |
(C) = captain. Squad as confirmed on May 19, 2026, updated May 31, 2026. Billy Gilmour (Napoli) was ruled out with a knee injury sustained against Curaçao on May 30. Tyler Fletcher (Manchester United) named as his replacement.
For all 48 team rosters, see our World Cup 2026 squads hub.
Quick Stats
Scotland’s 26-man squad has an average age of 29, mixing seasoned internationals with domestic talent from eight different Scottish Premiership clubs.
- Average age: 29 years
- Most-capped player: Andy Robertson (92 caps)
- Second most-capped: John McGinn (85 caps)
- Premier League players: 7 (Robertson, Hickey, Patterson, McGinn, Christie, Gannon-Doak, Fletcher)
- Scottish Premiership players: 8 (Gordon, Kelly, Hanley, Ralston, Souttar, Tierney, Shankland, Curtis)
- Youngest player: Tyler Fletcher (19, born March 19, 2007)
- Oldest player: Craig Gordon (43)
- Serie A players: 1 (Scott McTominay, Napoli)
Key Players to Watch
Scott McTominay (Napoli) is Scotland’s talisman. The 29-year-old all-action midfielder scored twice in qualifying, including that overhead kick against Denmark that sparked the Hampden crowd. At Napoli, he plays with freedom in an advanced midfield role that gets him into double figures for goals. Clarke builds the entire Scotland system around him.
Andy Robertson (C) (Liverpool) carries 92 caps and the captain’s armband into this tournament. The 32-year-old left back was Scotland’s most creative player in qualifying, registering two assists with 11 key passes across six games. Robertson won’t be with Liverpool next season but he departs Anfield as one of the great modern Scottish footballers, and the World Cup stage suits his style perfectly.
John McGinn (Aston Villa) is the engine behind Scotland’s best football. The 31-year-old captained Aston Villa to Europa League glory this season and brings that winning mentality to Clarke’s camp. McGinn led Scotland in expected assists during qualifying despite not scoring. He plays as a left-sided midfielder for the national team but gets forward constantly.
Kieran Tierney (Celtic) was injury-free through qualifying for the first time in years and delivered one of the campaign’s defining moments. The 29-year-old versatile defender fired home from 20 metres in stoppage time against Denmark, his goal sending Scotland towards qualification. Clarke trusts him to cover multiple positions across the back line.
Lawrence Shankland (Hearts) scored 16 league goals this season and netted in the qualifying decider against Denmark. The 30-year-old striker gives Clarke a physical presence in the box and set piece threat. Shankland competes with Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams for a starting spot, but his domestic form makes him impossible to ignore.
Tyler Fletcher (Manchester United) is the squad’s most compelling story. The 19-year-old midfielder replaced Billy Gilmour after the Napoli player suffered a knee injury in the Curaçao warm-up on May 30. Fletcher is the son of Darren Fletcher, the former Scotland captain who won 80 caps but never played at a World Cup. Clarke backed the teenager above more experienced standby players. He made his Scotland debut against Curaçao days before earning this call-up.
Scotland World Cup 2026 Schedule
Scotland plays all three group stage matches in the northeastern USA and Florida. Local kickoff times are listed in Eastern Time (ET) and British Summer Time (BST) for fans watching from home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 13, 2026 | Haiti | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Boston | 9:00 PM | 2:00 AM (Jun 14) |
| June 19, 2026 | Morocco | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Boston | 6:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| June 24, 2026 | Brazil | Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium), Miami | 6:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
Scotland lost both pre-tournament friendlies in March 2026, 0-1 to Japan at Hampden and 0-1 to Ivory Coast at Anfield. Clarke used those fixtures to rotate. Scotland beat Curaçao 4-1 at Hampden on May 30, though the match was overshadowed by Billy Gilmour’s knee injury that ended his tournament before it began.
All kickoff times follow the official FIFA match schedule, confirmed at the December 5, 2025 draw. Check our full 2026 World Cup match schedule for all 104 games.
How Scotland Qualified for the World Cup 2026
Scotland entered UEFA Group C alongside Denmark, Greece, and Belarus. The campaign opened in Copenhagen with a goalless draw, solid on the road but not the flying start Clarke hoped for. Two wins over Belarus followed quickly: 2-1 at Hampden and 2-0 away at a neutral venue. Scotland then beat Greece 3-1 at Hampden in their best performance of the group stage.
Greece won the reverse fixture 3-2 to keep the group open. That same November evening, Belarus drew with Denmark, leaving Scotland and Denmark level at the top. The final matchday became a straight shootout at Hampden on November 18, 2025, with 49,587 supporters packed inside.
Scott McTominay opened the scoring with a sensational overhead kick. Lawrence Shankland doubled the lead before Denmark clawed back to 2-2. Then Scotland produced two stoppage-time moments that Scotland fans will recount for decades. Kieran Tierney fired home from 20 metres. Kenny McLean rolled one in from just inside the Danish half. Final score: Scotland 4, Denmark 2. Qualification confirmed.
Scotland finished Group C with four wins, one draw, and one defeat, scoring 13 goals. Che Adams, McTominay, and Ryan Christie each scored twice across the campaign. The Scottish FA confirmed the squad on May 19, 2026 as direct qualifiers from the UEFA group stage.
Head Coach: Steve Clarke
Steve Clarke, born August 29, 1963 in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, took charge of Scotland in May 2019. The 62-year-old replaced Alex McLeish after impressing at Kilmarnock, where he finished third in the Scottish Premiership. As a player, Clarke spent 11 years at Chelsea, won three major trophies, and earned six caps as a right-back for Scotland between 1987 and 1994.
His tenure transformed Scottish football from also-rans to consistent qualifiers. Clarke delivered Scotland’s first major tournament since 1998 at Euro 2020, followed by Euro 2024 as group-stage hosts. The World Cup makes it three consecutive finals under his watch. He signed a contract extension in May 2026 keeping him as Scotland head coach until the 2030 World Cup. Clarke’s preferred shape is a 4-2-3-1, with McTominay as the advanced midfielder and Robertson providing width and attacking threat from the left back position.
He demands high work-rate and organised shape. Scotland don’t concede easy goals: they let in just seven across six qualifying matches. His central defensive options are genuine competition, with McKenna, Hendry, Hanley, and Souttar all pressing for two starting spots. Don’t expect fireworks from the bench, but Clarke reads a game well and isn’t afraid to change shape mid-match.
Group C at a Glance
Scotland are in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. The group was confirmed at the December 5, 2025 draw. See the full breakdown on our World Cup 2026 groups page.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 6th | 23rd | Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) |
| Morocco | 11th | 7th | Fourth place (2022) |
| Haiti | 84th | 2nd | Group stage (1974) |
| Scotland | 43rd | 9th | Group stage |
Brazil are five-time world champions and heavy favourites to top the group. Scotland and Brazil have met four times at the World Cup: a 0-0 draw in 1974 is the Scots’ best result, with three defeats in 1982, 1990, and 1998. Morocco arrive ranked 11th after their extraordinary run to the semi-finals in 2022. Haiti are making only their second World Cup appearance and are Scotland’s most realistic target for three points.
The historical symmetry is striking. Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland were all together in Group A at France 1998. Scotland exited that tournament without a win. Group C in 2026 gives them a second chance at the same test with a considerably stronger squad.
FAQ About Scotland World Cup Squad 2026
What is Scotland’s best-ever World Cup result?
Scotland have never advanced beyond the group stage in eight previous World Cup appearances. Their best near-miss came at the 1974 tournament in West Germany, where they went unbeaten in three matches but were eliminated on goal difference despite not losing a game. Every other World Cup campaign ended with at least one defeat.
Has Scotland ever beaten Brazil at the World Cup?
Scotland have never beaten Brazil in four World Cup meetings. Their best result was a 0-0 draw at the 1974 World Cup. Scotland then lost 1-4 to Brazil in 1982, 0-1 in 1990, and 1-2 in the opening match of the 1998 World Cup. Brazil remain unbeaten against Scotland at every major tournament.
Who is Scotland’s all-time top international scorer?
Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish jointly hold Scotland’s scoring record with 30 international goals each. Neither is in the 2026 squad. Among the current group, Scott McTominay is the most prolific scorer at international level, with key qualifying goals including the overhead kick against Denmark.
What colours does Scotland wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Scotland play in dark navy blue as their home colour, a strip they have worn for over 150 years. Their change kit is white. Both shirts were confirmed by the Scottish FA ahead of the tournament. Scotland’s dark blue shirt is one of the most recognisable in international football.
Was any Scotland player replaced before the final squad was announced?
Middlesbrough forward Tommy Conway was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after sustaining an ankle injury during the Championship playoffs, requiring surgery. The eight-cap international had been considered for selection. His absence allowed Ross Stewart of Southampton to return to the squad after his last Scotland appearance in 2022.
Scotland’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
Scotland arrive at their first World Cup in 28 years with an organised, disciplined squad that has genuine quality in midfield. Clarke’s side isn’t here to make up the numbers. Robertson, McGinn, and McTominay give Scotland genuine star power at this level, and the group stage record in qualifying (conceding just seven goals in six games) shows they’re hard to break down.
The Scotland World Cup Squad 2026 needs at least one win to have a realistic shot at the knockout stage. Haiti is the target fixture. A draw against Morocco would be a significant result.
Scotland have never beaten Brazil and a point against them would be historic. Clarke won’t promise the knockout stage, but this is his strongest squad and the best chance he’s had. Scotland could surprise people if Robertson and McTominay are at their best.
