Scotland name Robertson and McGinn in their 2026 World Cup squad as Steve Clarke targets a historic first knockout stage appearance.
Scotland have named their first World Cup squad in 28 years, with captain Andy Robertson and vice-captain John McGinn leading Steve Clarke’s ambitious group to North America. The Scots qualified for the tournament for the first time since 1998 and now hope to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.
Clarke unveiled a balanced 26-man squad packed with experienced internationals and emerging talents. Napoli duo Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour were included alongside Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson, while veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon earned a remarkable call-up at the age of 43.
Clarke has transformed Scotland’s fortunes since taking charge in 2019. Qualification for the 2026 World Cup means he has now guided the national team to three major tournaments in four attempts. Speaking after the squad announcement, Clarke acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead. Scotland have been drawn in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti, with matches set to take place in Massachusetts and Miami.
“The magnitude of the event has become more and more clear to me,” Clarke said. “I understand the responsibility we’ve got to produce our very best.” Scotland reached the finals after a dramatic qualifying campaign. Their decisive 4-2 victory over Denmark secured automatic qualification and sparked emotional celebrations at Hampden Park.
Robertson arrives at the tournament after a trophy-filled nine-year spell with Liverpool. The left-back will leave Anfield this summer having won two Premier League titles and the Champions League. He has registered 92 caps for Scotland and trails only Kenny Dalglish on the nation’s all-time appearance list.
McGinn continues to be one of Scotland’s most influential players. The Aston Villa midfielder has scored 20 international goals and played every minute during qualification. His leadership and energy remain vital for Clarke’s side.
McTominay is another player carrying huge expectations. The Napoli midfielder enjoyed another excellent campaign in Italy, scoring 14 goals after winning Serie A Player of the Year in 2025. His overhead kick against Denmark became one of Scotland’s defining qualification moments.
One of the biggest stories from the squad announcement was the inclusion of Ross Stewart. The Southampton striker returns after four years away from international football following an injury-plagued period. Stewart scored 11 goals in 33 matches this season, including a key strike in Southampton’s Championship play-off semi-final victory over Middlesbrough. Clarke praised the striker’s resilience and recent form.
Teenager Findlay Curtis also earned a place after impressing on loan at Kilmarnock. The 19-year-old scored four goals in his final five matches of the season and made his senior Scotland debut earlier this year against Japan.
Scotland’s squad combines experience with youth. Gordon could become the second-oldest player ever to feature at a World Cup, while Curtis is the youngest member of the travelling party. The Scots also arrive with strong club pedigree across Europe. McGinn helped Aston Villa reach the Europa League final, while Gilmour and McTominay both lifted the Serie A title with Napoli.
Lawrence Shankland earned selection after scoring 20 goals and producing six assists for Hearts this season. Meanwhile, Che Adams contributed seven goals for Torino in Serie A.
Scotland begin their preparations with friendlies against Curacao on May 30 and Bolivia on June 6. Clarke’s squad then travel to the United States ahead of their opening World Cup match against Haiti on June 13. They face Morocco on June 19 before concluding Group C against five-time champions Brazil on June 24 in Miami.
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, on loan from Rangers), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Napoli)
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich Town), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Ross Stewart (Southampton)
