SCO
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP C · POT 3

Scotland
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Steve Clarke · Scottish head coach since 2019. A former defender who earned 6 caps for Scotland between 1987 and 1994, he is a tactician renowned for rebuilding Kilmarnock — and engineered Scotland's first World Cup in 28 years.
MD1 Jun 13 vs Haiti MD2 Jun 19 vs Morocco MD3 Jun 24 vs Brazil
8th World Cup appearance · best finish: Group stage (1974, 1978, 1982)
26
Squad size
28.7
Avg. age
18 / 26
Overseas-based
0 / 26
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Steve Clarke's Scotland announced their final 26 on May 19. This is Scotland's first World Cup since France 1998 — 28 years on, captain Andy Robertson (Liverpool) leads a squad packed with Premier League and Serie A spine. The momentum from a 4-2 win over Denmark on the final qualifying matchday — sealing top spot in Group C and automatic qualification — carries through.

Backbone: Robertson, John McGinn (Aston Villa) and Scott McTominay (Napoli, fresh off a Serie A title) form a Premier/Serie A trio, supported by Ché Adams (Torino) and Tyler Fletcher (Manchester United), who was called up after Billy Gilmour's injury. 43-year-old Craig Gordon and 22-year-old Ben Gannon-Doak underline the generational range.

Group C opponents: Haiti, Morocco, Brazil. The June 24 fixture against Brazil is a 28-years-later rematch of the 1998 group match (1-2 defeat). A first-ever knockout berth is the realistic target.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 3-4-2-1.

Clarke's preferred 3-4-2-1 / 5-3-2 hybrid. Robertson and Patterson push as wing-backs while McGinn and McTominay dominate vertically. Ché Adams leads the line with Christie and Gannon-Doak as shadows.

3-4-2-1 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

3
LB · DF
Andy Robertson
Liverpool · 32 · Premier League
92 caps · 4G WC debut
Captain & world-class LB
CAPTAIN
7
CM · MF
John McGinn
Aston Villa · 31 · Premier League
85 caps · 20G WC debut
Midfield core & 6th all-time scorer
ACE
4
CM · MF
Scott McTominay
Napoli · 29 · Serie A
69 caps · 14G WC debut
Serie A-winning tall BTB
10
ST · FW
Ché Adams
Torino · 29 · Serie A
46 caps · 11G WC debut
Striking spearhead
17
RW · MF
Ben Gannon-Doak
Bournemouth · 20 · Premier League
12 caps · 1G WC debut
Next-gen wing dynamo
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 10
MF MIDFIELDERS 8
FW FORWARDS 5
GROUP C

GROUP C.

BRA
Brazil
POT 1
MAR
Morocco
POT 2
HAI
Haiti
POT 3
SCO
Scotland
POT 3
Sat, Jun 13
Haiti vs Scotland
Boston Stadium · Foxborough, MA
Scotland's first World Cup match in 28 years (since 1998 France). The Tartan Army demand three points — Robertson and McGinn must dismantle Haiti's organisation.
View lineups →
MD1
Fri, Jun 19
Morocco vs Scotland
Boston Stadium · Foxborough, MA
A pivotal test against 2022 fourth-place Morocco. Robertson and Patterson must contain Hakimi's overlaps — McTominay's aerial battles are critical.
View lineups →
MD2
Wed, Jun 24
Brazil vs Scotland
Miami Stadium · Miami Gardens, FL
Group decider vs Brazil in Miami. A chance for revenge on the 5-time champions after the 1998 group match (1-2 defeat) — the Tartan Army's signature occasion.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group C
  1. Round of 32 Jun 29 · Houston vs Runners-up Group F
  2. Round of 16 Jul 05 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 78
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Miami Gardens vs Winner of Match 92
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 100
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
Runners-up, Group C
  1. Round of 32 Jun 29 · Guadalupe vs Winners Group F
  2. Round of 16 Jul 04 · Houston vs Winner of Match 73
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 09 · Foxborough vs Winner of Match 89
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 98
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
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