Squad announced: 19 May 2026 | Updated: 31 May 2026
Steve Clarke named the Scotland World Cup 2026 squad on 19 May 2026. Billy Gilmour was ruled out with a knee injury and replaced by Tyler Fletcher. Andy Robertson captains the Tartan Army at their first World Cup since France 1998. Scotland are in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.
Key facts
- Steve Clarke named the Scotland World Cup 2026 squad on 19 May 2026.
- Andy Robertson (Liverpool) captains Scotland at their first World Cup since 1998.
- Scott McTominay (Napoli) is Scotland's talisman, scoring the overhead kick qualifier against Denmark.
- Billy Gilmour was ruled out with a knee injury - replaced by Tyler Fletcher (Manchester United).
- Craig Gordon, 43, is included as third-choice goalkeeper and would be the second oldest player at any World Cup.
- Scotland face Haiti (2am BST 14 June), Morocco (11pm 19 June) and Brazil (11pm 24 June) in Group C.
Scotland World Cup 2026 Squad: The Full 26-Player List
Steve Clarke named the Scotland World Cup 2026 squad on 19 May 2026, sending the Tartan Army back to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. The squad was updated on 31 May 2026 after Billy Gilmour of Napoli suffered a knee injury in Scotland's final warm-up match against Curacao at Hampden Park on 30 May. Tyler Fletcher of Manchester United, 19, was named as his replacement. Andy Robertson of Liverpool captains Scotland. Scott McTominay of Napoli is the side's talisman, having scored the late goals against Denmark that secured qualification.
Goalkeepers
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Angus Gunn | Nottingham Forest |
| Liam Kelly | Rangers |
| Craig Gordon | Hearts |
Angus Gunn carries the number 1 shirt, indicating Steve Clarke's faith in him as first choice after a season at Nottingham Forest. Craig Gordon, 43, is included as third-choice keeper and would become the second oldest player to appear at a World Cup, behind only Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary who was 45 at the 2018 tournament. Liam Kelly of Rangers completes the goalkeeping options.
Defenders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Aaron Hickey | Brentford |
| Andy Robertson | Liverpool |
| Grant Hanley | Hibernian |
| Kieran Tierney | Celtic |
| Jack Hendry | Al-Ettifaq |
| John Souttar | Rangers |
| Dominic Hyam | Wrexham |
| Nathan Patterson | Everton |
| Anthony Ralston | Celtic |
| Scott McKenna | Dinamo Zagreb |
Andy Robertson captains Scotland with 92 caps and is the squad's most experienced player. Grant Hanley makes the cut despite injury concerns late in the season. Jack Hendry, playing in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq, has 37 caps and provides experience in the central defensive options. Clarke has multiple central defensive choices in McKenna, Hendry, Hanley and Souttar. Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey provide right-back options. The Robertson-Tierney debate at left-back continues, with both included.
Midfielders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Scott McTominay | Napoli |
| John McGinn | Aston Villa |
| Ryan Christie | Bournemouth |
| Tyler Fletcher | Manchester United |
| Ben Gannon-Doak | Celtic |
| Lewis Ferguson | Bologna |
| Kenny McLean | Norwich City |
| Findlay Curtis | Hearts |
Scott McTominay is the undisputed focal point of Clarke's midfield, playing in an advanced role that gets him into double figures for goals from midfield at Napoli. John McGinn, 85 caps, is the second most experienced Scotland player in the squad. Ryan Christie provides creativity and experience. Tyler Fletcher of Manchester United, 19, replaced Billy Gilmour after Gilmour suffered a knee injury in the Curacao friendly on 30 May. Ben Gannon-Doak of Celtic adds pace and directness.
Forwards
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Lyndon Dykes | Queens Park Rangers |
| Che Adams | Southampton |
| Ross Stewart | Sunderland |
| George Hirst | Ipswich Town |
| Lawrence Shankland | Hearts |
Lyndon Dykes carries the number 9 shirt and is Scotland's principal target striker. Che Adams of Southampton provides pace and international experience. Ross Stewart of Sunderland was recalled to the squad after four years in the international wilderness, replacing Tommy Conway who was ruled out through injury before the squad was finalised. Lawrence Shankland of Hearts is included as a forward option. George Hirst of Ipswich Town completes the attacking options.
Steve Clarke: Scotland's World Cup Manager
Steve Clarke, born 29 August 1963 in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, has been Scotland's head coach since May 2019. He is 62 years old. Clarke played as a right-back for Scotland, earning six international caps between 1987 and 1994. As a player, he spent 11 years at Chelsea and won three major trophies. He managed Kilmarnock before taking the Scotland job. Under Clarke, Scotland qualified for Euro 2020 (their first major tournament since 1998), Euro 2024 (as hosts), and the 2026 World Cup - three consecutive major tournaments. He signed a contract extension in May 2026 keeping him as Scotland head coach until the 2030 World Cup. His preferred formation is 4-2-3-1.
Scotland's World Cup 2026 Group Stage Matches
Scotland face Haiti on 13 June (2am BST Sunday 14 June, BBC, Gillette Stadium Boston), Morocco on 19 June (11pm BST, ITV, Gillette Stadium Boston) and Brazil on 24 June (11pm BST, ITV, Hard Rock Stadium Miami). Scotland have never advanced beyond the group stage at any previous World Cup. The 2026 tournament is their ninth World Cup appearance and first since France 1998.
Notable Absences from the Scotland World Cup 2026 Squad
Tommy Conway of Middlesbrough was ruled out through injury before the squad was announced. Billy Gilmour of Napoli was initially selected but was replaced by Tyler Fletcher after suffering a knee injury in the warm-up match against Curacao on 30 May. Several other players from the qualification campaign did not make the final cut as Clarke trimmed from a 55-man provisional list to the final 26.
Scotland's Preparations and Pre-Tournament Matches
Scotland played a warm-up match against Curacao at Hampden Park on 30 May 2026, which resulted in the injury to Billy Gilmour that required his replacement by Tyler Fletcher. Scotland then played a final warm-up match against Bolivia at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey on 6 June before the tournament began. The New Jersey warm-up gave Scotland familiarity with the East Coast conditions they will face in their Boston-based group stage matches.
The squad travelled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a pre-tournament training camp before moving north to Boston for the Haiti and Morocco fixtures. The weather conditions in Boston in mid-June are warm and humid, which presents different challenges from Scottish domestic football. Clarke's preparation has incorporated acclimatisation training to manage the physical adjustment for players more accustomed to cooler conditions.
Scotland's Historic Opportunity
The 2026 World Cup represents Scotland's first World Cup since France 1998, which ended with a group stage exit after matches against Brazil, Norway and Morocco. The historical parallel between the 1998 and 2026 draws is striking: Scotland face Brazil and Morocco in 2026 as they did in 1998. In 1998, Scotland lost to Brazil 2-1 in the opening match and then lost 1-0 to Morocco in the decisive final group game. The 2026 draw gives Scotland the opportunity to rewrite that narrative with a different outcome against the same opposition 28 years later.
Scotland have never advanced beyond the group stage at any of their nine World Cup appearances. The record of not advancing is the defining statistical frustration of Scotland's World Cup history. The 2026 squad, under Clarke's management and with players of genuine Premier League and European league quality in Robertson, McTominay and McGinn, represents one of Scotland's stronger tournament squads in terms of the level at which the players compete at club level.
Scotland's squad draws from clubs across multiple European leagues. Liverpool's Robertson and Napoli's McTominay and the late-replaced Gilmour represent the squad's highest-profile club associations. Eight players come from Scottish Premiership clubs, reflecting the continued importance of domestic football to the national team. The average age of the squad is 29, providing a balance of experience and energy for a tournament that places significant physical demands on players over the group stage period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is in the Scotland World Cup 2026 squad?
The Scotland World Cup 2026 squad named by Steve Clarke is: Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Craig Gordon (Hearts). Defenders: Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Andy Robertson - captain (Liverpool), Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Kieran Tierney (Celtic), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), John Souttar (Rangers), Dominic Hyam (Wrexham), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb). Midfielders: Scott McTominay (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Tyler Fletcher (Manchester United), Ben Gannon-Doak (Celtic), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Findlay Curtis (Hearts). Forwards: Lyndon Dykes (QPR), Che Adams (Southampton), Ross Stewart (Sunderland), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).
Who captains Scotland at the 2026 World Cup?
Andy Robertson of Liverpool. Robertson has 92 caps, making him the most experienced player in the Scotland World Cup 2026 squad. He is Scotland's most-capped active player.
Who is Scotland's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Steve Clarke. Clarke has been Scotland head coach since May 2019 and has guided them to three consecutive major tournaments - Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup. He signed a contract extension in May 2026 keeping him in the role until the 2030 World Cup.
Why was Billy Gilmour not in the final Scotland squad?
Billy Gilmour of Napoli was initially selected for the Scotland World Cup 2026 squad but was ruled out after suffering a knee injury in Scotland's warm-up match against Curacao at Hampden Park on 30 May 2026. Tyler Fletcher of Manchester United, 19, was named as his replacement.
