Scotland World Cup squad: Predicted lineup for 2026

Scotland have announced their 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup in Canada, the USA and Mexico.

Steve Clarke has picked what he believes to be the squad that can take his native Scotland the furthest as the nation prepares for their first World Cup appearance this century.

The Scots topped their qualifying group containing Denmark, Greece and Belarus to put themselves on the world footballing map for the first time since 1998.

Scotland have been drawn into Group C in their first appearance at a World Cup in 28 years, where they will take on Haiti and Morocco in their opening two matches in Boston, followed by a trip to Miami where they will face the mighty Brazil.

Coincidentally, Brazil and Morocco were also in the group when Scotland last reached the World Cup in France in 1998, and the five-time champions were also in their group in their previous tournament in 1990.

The campaign in Massachusetts gets underway with a match against Haiti, who will be making their first World Cup appearance since 1974.

Bet on the open positions in Scotland’s starting XI at Betway

Steve Clarke a meticulous coach

Clarke is now into his eighth year in charge of the nation he represented six times as a player, having taken the reins in May 2019 with Scotland having missed out on qualification for each of the last 10 major tournaments.

Since the 62-year-old’s appointment, Scotland have qualified for three of the four major tournaments possible, reaching the last two Euros and now finally breaking their 28-year World Cup duck.

Despite their qualifying for 13 major tournaments prior to this summer, Scotland are yet to progress beyond the group stage in any competition, but with a record 32 teams reaching the knockout stage in North America this year, now could prove the perfect chance to do so.

This afternoon, Clarke, who has worked as assistant manager at Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa on his CV, picked the 26 players he thinks can best aid the team best as they bid to reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history.

The star player: Scott McTominay

Four years ago, Scott McTominay was a player struggling to stamp his authority on the Manchester United team that stumbled to a sixth placed finish under Ralf Rangnick in the Premier League.

The Scot was being shoehorned into a centre back starting position in a back three for his national team, a year on from a disappointing group stage exit in Euro 2020, and fresh from a humiliating 3-1 home defeat by Ukraine in a 2022 World Cup play-off.

Fast forward six months and McTominay is Scotland’s hero, firing his country to the top of their Euro 2024 qualifying group after scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over future European champions Spain at Hampden Park on a night that will live long in the memory.

McTominay was the star performing throughout qualifying as Scotland reached their second consecutive European Championship for the first time in 28 years, with only A-Listers Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane scoring more goals in qualifying.

The midfielder has since become his nation’s talisman, and secured a move from a tempestuous Manchester United side to Napoli, where the 29-year-old took like a duck to water, winning the Scudetto and the Player of the Season award in his first campaign with 18 goal contributions from the heart of midfield.

Scotland starting 11 vs. Haiti predictions

FAQ about the 2026 Scotland World Cup squad

1. How many times have Scotland qualified the World Cup?

This summer will be Scotland’s 10th appearance on the global stage, but their first since 1998.

The Scots have won four of their 23 matches in World Cup appearances and have never made it past the group stage, however with potentially three teams going through from their group this summer, this could be perfect opportunity to reach the last 32.

2. Who are the surprise inclusions in Clarke’s squad?

Ross Stewart has earned his first international call up since 2022 after impressing in the second half of the season with Southampton in the Championship, the striker perhaps aided by Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway’s untimely injury.

Findlay Curtis is the only teenager in the named in the squad after having made his debut off the bench against Japan in March. The Rangers winger impressed during his loan spell at Kilmarnock in the second half of the recently concluded season.

3. What are the big decisions still to make in the starting XI?

It’s uncertain who will be between the sticks in Scotland’s opening fixture in Boston against Haiti in the early hours of Sunday 14th June, with all three in the squad having barely played, if at all, for their club sides this season.

Angus Gunn was first choice for the first four qualifiers before picking up a knee injury for the last two but has played just 45 minutes of club football for Nottingham Forest this season, and is currently the club’s fourth choice.

Craig Gordon is 43 years young, and despite playing the crucial final two qualifiers, has played just two and half games for Hearts this season and has been out since February with a shoulder injury.

Striker is also a position of contention with Stewart called up for the first time in four years, with Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland likely to lead the line ahead of Che Adams, George Hirst and Lyndon Dykes.

The centre back conundrum continues to crop up, with 34-year-old Grant Hanley perhaps in pole position to start alongside Dinamo Zagreb’s Scott McKenna, though John Souttar, Jack Hendry and Dominic Hyam will all have something to say about that.

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