World Cup 2026: Steve Clarke names Craig Gordon, Findlay Curtis, Ross Stewart in Scotland's 26-man squad
Steve Clarke has named a 26-man squad for the World Cup; Scotland's final warm-up games feature a Hampden Park meeting with Curacao on May 30 before facing Bolivia in the USA; Scotland take on Haiti in their World Cup opener on June 14, before group games against Morocco and Brazil
Tuesday 19 May 2026 15:35, UK
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has named Craig Gordon, Findlay Curtis and Ross Stewart in his 26-man squad for the World Cup.
Hearts goalkeeper Gordon, 43, missed out on the last Euros but takes his place alongside Angus Gunn of Nottingham Forest and Liam Kelly of Rangers - despite the trio not featuring regularly at club level this season.
Clarke has shown loyalty throughout his tenure and that remains with this group. Eight defenders and seven midfielders who featured in every qualification group are in.
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In the back-line that includes some of those you'd expect, like captain Andy Robertson, Celtic's Kieran Tierney and Aaron Hickey of Brentford, there's also room for Celtic's Anthony Ralston, Rangers' John Souttar and Grant Hanley of Hibernian, who was a fitness doubt.
Then you've got midfielder Scott McTominay, who scored that overhead kick against Denmark, alongside the likes of John McGinn, Ben Gannon-Doak and Kenny McLean, yes the one who scored from the halfway line.
There is also a spot for Bologna's Lewis Ferguson, and Curtis, who has been rewarded for an impressive end to the season on loan at Kilmarnock.
The Rangers winger, 19, earned his first cap against Japan in March and has caught the eye of Clarke after that loan spell during the second half of the campaign.
At the top end of the pitch, Stewart's only two caps came in June 2022, but he is now on the plane to the USA after an impressive end to the season at Southampton.
He'll be joined by Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, who scored 16 goals in a season where he almost fired the club to the league title, plus Ipswich's George Hirst, who featured in every qualification squad, and the duo Clarke has relied upon most - Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes.
With the squad named, attention now turns to two final warm-up matches against Curacao on May 30 at Hampden Park, before facing Bolivia in the USA.
Then, it all gets underway, as Scotland return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. The first match is on June 14 against Haiti, followed by matches against Morocco and Brazil as Clarke bids to lead the nation past the group stages for the first time ever.
Scotland's 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 (Bournemouth), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli).
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Ross Stewart (Southampton).
'Strongest goalkeepers we have'
Former Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall on Sky Sports News:
"I fully expected Angus [Gunn] and Craig [Gordon] to prove their fitness and make the squad, but I think the attention now turns to the friendly games.
"Steve will be looking at training to decide who's going to be the starting goalkeeper.
"I think there are a few positions where the players will want to show their worth, and it'll be interesting to see how Steve sets up before the first game.
"The friendlies will be a big guide to who's going to start, and Steve will have to look at the lads closely in terms of their fitness.
"I think Scott Bain might be a bit disappointed, he's played the most minutes this season, he's been the only regular starter in the group. However, it's a good group, it's probably the strongest group of goalkeepers we've got.
"There's a good blend of experience in there as well, which I think is really important in these big games. The partnerships between goalkeepers and defenders are vital. Steve has gone for experience in the back line, and up top he's obviously added goals with Ross Stewart and Lawrence Shankland."
'Stewart could be Clarke's wildcard weapon'
Simeon Gholam, Sky Sports EFL editor:
Ross Stewart has been blighted by constant setbacks since arriving at Southampton for a hefty fee in 2023, managing just 17 appearances in his first two seasons at the club.
This campaign he has finally started to show the Saints support what they have been missing, reaching double figures for goals in 33 appearances - only 15 of which were starts.
Now 29, you wonder where he would be without the injuries. He is sharp in front of goal, while also possessing all the attributes of an imperious targetman.
During his time at Sunderland, it did seem as though his trajectory could end in the Premier League.
He has benefited in the second half of the campaign from being able to rotate with Cyle Larin, with doubts remaining over his ability to play back-to-back games.
But he showed what impact he can have in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final, leaping powerfully and rising highest to score a vital header that led to Southampton's comeback and ultimate victory over Middlesbrough.
He could be a genuine wildcard weapon in Steve Clarke's squad.
Boyd: Curtis deserves World Cup spot
Sky Sports' Kris Boyd on Sky Sports News:
"Findlay Curtis has had a fantastic second-half of the season at Kilmarnock.
"Similar to Ben Gannon-Doak, he's someone who will get on the ball, take people on.
"Steve took a few of the youngsters to the Euros and gave them the opportunity to see what it was like around the squad and everything. They were able to kick on from there.
"If Steve Clarke's going to sign a new deal and go forward as Scotland manager, he's got to be evolving the squad as well. People like Findlay Curtis will help do that.
"He's scored five goals in his last eight games for Kilmarnock as well and deserves that spot."
Who missed out?
With Gordon, Gunn and Kelly picked to battle it out for the No 1 spot, Falkirk's Scott Bain is among them to miss out - that's despite playing regularly for his club, unlike the trio selected.
Ross McCrorie featured in the warm-up games against Japan and Ivory Coast, but was not selected, and nor were Sassuolo's Josh Doig and Max Johnston of Derby County - both of whom had been around during the qualification campaign.
While Hearts are represented at both ends of the pitch, some fans felt the likes of Stuart Findlay and Harry Milne could have reinforced the defensive line too.
In midfield, Udinese's Lennon Miller has missed out, as has Andy Irving who had returned to the fold in March following his move to Czech side Sparta Prague.
Tommy Conway had already been ruled out due to injury, with the Middlesbrough player, who had 13 goals to his name, suffering an ankle knock in the play-offs.
Hull City's Oli McBurnie, who has scored 18 goals in 41 games this season, plus Kieron Bowie, who had four goals in his last nine games at Serie A strugglers Hellas Verona, were thought to be options too but Clarke went for Stewart to join Hirst, Shankland, Adams and Dykes.
Where do Scotland play and when?
If you're not planning to go out to North America, prepare for some late nights! Or should that be early mornings?!
Scotland's World Cup opener will be against Haiti in Boston on June 13 at 9pm local time - but that's 2am on June 14 UK time!
Scotland stay on in Boston to face Morocco on June 19 at 6pm local time - 11pm UK time. Then it's down to Miami to take on Brazil five days later, and that's another 11pm UK time kick-off.
For those of you heading out there - if you think Euro 2024 was a trip of a lifetime, well, this is going to be the trip of a lifetime.
The 2026 tournament will take place across 16 cities in three North American countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
