After 28 long years away, Scotland are back at the World Cup.
If a week is a long time in football, then the last three decades will have felt like an eternity at times for the Tartan Army.
All that is forgotten now as Steve Clarke’s men join the top nations from around the globe at this summer’s North American football festival.
They have their work cut out for them – in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti – as they look to reach the knock-out stages for the first time, but nothing worth doing ever comes easy.
Who then, are the 26 players that Clarke has trusted with being Scotland’s history makers in Canada, Mexico and the United States?
Radio Times brings you the Scotland squad for World Cup 2026.
Read more World Cup 2026: Watch on TV | Matches on today | Fixtures & results | Radio coverage | Stadium guide | BBC presenters | ITV presenters | Highlights
Scotland squad at World Cup 2026
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers)
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Tyler Fletcher (Man Utd), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli)
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Rangers), Ross Stewart (Southampton)
Scotland World Cup 2026 player profiles
Goalkeepers
21. Craig Gordon (Hearts)
The oldest player at World Cup 2026, 43-year-old Craig Gordon is not short on experience, with 84 caps to his name, but comes into the tournament a little undercooked.
Though Gordon made just three league appearances for Hearts in 2025/26, he could still be the first choice between the sticks.
1. Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest)
Goalkeeping runs in the family for Angus Gunn, whose father Bryan represented Scotland in the 90s.
The 30-year-old, who played every minute at Euro 2024, is a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest this summer.
12. Liam Kelly (Rangers)
Just like his goalkeeping colleagues, Liam Kelly arrives at the tournament on the back of a season where opportunities at Rangers have been in short supply.
Kelly, who has just signed a new two-year deal at Ibrox, will hope to add to his two caps in North America.
Defenders
5. Grant Hanley (Hibernian)
34-year-old centre-back Grant Hanley has been one of Clarke’s trusted lieutenants but is a divisive figure among fans.
15 years on from his Scotland debut, Hanley and his experience may well have a part to play at World Cup 2026.
13. Jack Hendry
One of Scotland’s more athletic central defensive options, Jack Hendry played every minute at Euro 2024 but has struggled to regain his place in the side after a lengthy absence due to a knee injury.
The 31-year-old is something of a journeyman and is now plying his trade with Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq, his 12th club.
2. Aaron Hickey (Brentford)
Aaron Hickey looks set to be a regular fixture at right-back, or right wing-back, at World Cup 2026.
The 23-year-old’s career has been blighted by injuries, which have stopped him from featuring at prior tournaments, but he will be raring to go in North America.
16. Dom Hyam (Wrexham)
Centre-back Dom Hyam has just four Scotland caps to his name and looks like he might see limited minutes in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
An EFL stalwart, the 30-year-old was a double promotion winner at Coventry City before spells at Blackburn and Wrexham.
26. Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb)
A powerful centre-back that is good in the air and confident in possession, Scott McKenna could be a regular starter for Clarke.
McKenna helped Nottingham Forest win promotion to the Premier League in 2021/22 and now plays for Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb.
22. Nathan Patterson (Everton)
Nathan Patterson is one of the players competing for the right-back spot.
The 25-year-old has been out of favour at Everton this season, starting just three times in the Premier League, but is a hard-working defender.
24. Anthony Ralston (Celtic)
Anthony Ralston has fallen down the pecking order at both club and international level.
The 27-year-old looks set to provide cover at right-back but will want to make the most of his opportunity if it comes.
3. Andy Robertson (Tottenham)
Scotland’s captain and second all-time appearance maker is a nailed-on starter on the left side of the defence.
A ferocious full-back who leads by example, Andy Robertson will swap Liverpool for Tottenham this summer.
15. John Souttar (Rangers)
Rangers regular John Souttar is one of the players pushing for a start at centre-back at World Cup 2026.
The 24-year-old’s brother, Harry Souttar, is representing Australia at this summer’s tournament.
6. Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
The World Cup comes on the back of Kieran Tierney’s most productive season in nearly a decade, in which he helped Celtic claim a dramatic title win.
Expect the 28-year-old to get plenty of minutes as a rotation option for Robertson or on the left of a back three if Clarke shifts to a back five.
Midfielders
11. Ryan Christie (Bournemouth)
A key figure in qualifying, it would be no surprise to see Ryan Christie start regularly in central midfield for Scotland.
The 31-year-old is a hard-worker that can drive with the ball, find a pass and is no stranger to a goal.
25. Findlay Curtis (Rangers)
One of two teenagers in the Scotland squad, Findlay Curtis is a direct and pacey winger, who has a goal in him.
The 19-year-old made his debut in March after impressing on loan at Kilmarnock in the second half of the season.
19. Lewis Ferguson (Bologna)
Lewis Ferguson played every minute of five of Scotland’s six World Cup qualifiers and is expected to reprise his role in holding midfield in North America.
The 26-year-old has spent four years in Serie A with Bologna, where he won the Coppa Italia last term.
8. Tyler Fletcher (Man Utd)
Tyler Fletcher earned a late call-up due to the injury to Billy Gilmour after dazzling Clarke during the pre-tournament camp and could well make his mark at World Cup 2026.
The son of former Scotland captain Darren Fletcher, the 19-year-old is a Man Utd academy product.
17. Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth)
Ben Gannon-Doak could prove to be one of Scotland’s key attacking weapons at this summer’s tournament.
The Bournemouth winger’s frightening pace, direct running and dangerous deliveries make him a nightmare for opposition defenders – though his final ball can be lacking at times.
7. John McGinn (Aston Villa)
The Aston Villa captain has had a fantastic season, which culminated in hoisting the Europa League.
Whether it’s in central midfield, out wide, or further forward, Clarke surely has to find a place for John McGinn, who is a match-winner.
23. Kenny McLean (Norwich)
Norwich City metronome Kenny McLean is another player pushing for minutes in the middle of the park.
The 34-year-old is a more defensive presence than some of Clarke’s options but scored from his own half to help book Scotland’s place at the tournament.
4. Scott McTominay
Scotland’s best player and someone that is capable of winning games on his own, Scott McTominay has had a meteoric rise since swapping Man Utd for Napoli.
His bicycle kick in the play-off against Denmark speaks to his quality and his confidence. You feel there are more big moments to come this summer.
Forwards
10. Che Adams (Torino)
Che Adams featured in all six of Scotland’s qualifiers, scoring twice, and bagged a brace in the warm-up match against Bolivia.
The striker has scored 18 goals over two seasons in Serie A with Torino and could be a regular starter.
9. Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic)
The Australian-born towering frontman has been given the number nine shirt and is a favourite of Clarke’s.
Though his goal record is often lacking, Lyndon Dykes occupies defenders, wins flick-ons and gets through so much other work.
18. George Hirst (Ipswich)
George Hirst has work to do to force his way into the Scotland starting XI.
The 27-year-old scored 11 times in 2025/26 to help Ipswich Town win promotion back to the Premier League.
20. Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)
Lawrence Shankland looks to have finally convinced Clarke of his quality after a fantastic season at Hearts and goals in both warm-up games.
Having fallen agonisingly short of firing Hearts to the title, the 30-year-old has signed for Rangers.
14. Ross Stewart (Southampton)
Ross Stewart spearheaded Southampton’s promotion charge in the second half of the season and has been justly rewarded with a call-up.
The ‘Loch Ness Drogba’ is the owner of surely the finest nickname at the World Cup.
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