Steve Clarke has named his 26-man Scotland squad for the 2026 World Cup, confirming a place for 43-year-old Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon, Kilmarnock loan star Findlay Curtis and in-form Southampton striker Ross Stewart.
Scotland face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in Group C, with all three fixtures taking place in the United States.
Their campaign opens on June 14 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, against Haiti, before they face Morocco on June 19 in the same venue and conclude the group phase against Brazil on June 24 in Miami.
“When you’re naming a squad for an event as big as the World Cup, it takes a toll,” Clarke said at Hampden. “You’ve got to think a lot about it, make sure you get the balance right. I feel we’ve done that. Everybody knows the way I work. Hopefully the experience of the boys who have been to major tournaments before will come to the fore and we’ll do something no Scottish team has done before.”
Gordon gets the nod
The most notable selection in the squad is Craig Gordon, who at 43 has not played a competitive minute since a 2-2 draw with Celtic in January.
Clarke was asked about the logic of taking a goalkeeper so short on game time.
“Always difficult when you have goalkeepers not playing regularly. As long as they are working to their maximum in training, you feel they can come in and play for a number of games. We’ve had good reports back from Hearts, he’s training very well, he assures us he’s fully fit. He’s shown tremendous resilience. He deserves to be there.”
Gordon joins Angus Gunn of Nottingham Forest and Rangers’ Liam Kelly in the goalkeeping group. Clarke confirmed he will also take a young training goalkeeper as a 27th member of the travelling party.
Stewart in but Conway out
Ross Stewart returns from a four-year international absence to replace Tommy Conway, who has been ruled out through injury.
The Sunderland striker has been in outstanding form since January and Clarke left no doubt about why he made the call.
“He’s had a terrible run with injury, but from January onwards he’s hit a rich vein of form. He’s shown he can score big goals in big games. The Arsenal game in the cup showed he can have an impact on games of that level. He’s a striker in form, so I decided to add him to the group.”
On Conway’s absence, Clarke was sympathetic. “I spoke to Tommy, he’s devastated with the injury. Very disappointing that he’s missed out. It’s unfortunate, we talked about it at length.”
Miller left out
The most controversial absence is Lennon Miller, the 19-year-old who has impressed in his debut Udinese season and had been part of previous Scotland squads.
“I had five very difficult conversations. I know how they’ll be feeling. He had been in a few squads, maybe felt he was going to be a regular. I felt with the balance of the midfield it was better to take an extra forward than a midfield player”, Clarke added.
The squad contains ten defenders, three of them right-backs in Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson and Anthony Ralston.
‘The American public will love them’
Clarke signed off his press conference with a message to the Tartan Army, who are expected to travel in large numbers to Boston and Miami.
“Go out there and enjoy yourself. Do what you always do and give us 100% backing. The American public will love them.”
He also acknowledged the cost involved with a grin, having taken his own family to the tournament. “I know. It’s pretty expensive!”
Scotland face Curacao at Hampden Park on May 30 before flying to the United States the following day. Their final pre-tournament warm-up comes against Bolivia in New Jersey on June 6 before the group stage begins.
Scotland World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), 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, Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Billy Gilmour, John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean, Scott McTominay (Manchester City).
Forwards: Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Ross Stewart (Southampton).
