Scotland World Cup 2026 team guide

This article is portion of nan Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a practice betwixt immoderate of nan champion media organisations from nan 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is moving previews from 3 countries each time successful nan run-up to nan tourney kicking disconnected connected 11 June.

The plan

Scotland qualified for nan World Cup successful melodramatic circumstances that absorbed almost 3 decades of frustration. This marks a first quality successful nan arena since 1998 and it was achieved connected a spine-tingling Hampden Park juncture erstwhile Denmark were yet vanquished 4-2. Scott McTominay scored pinch a stunning overhead footwear and Kenny McLean wrapped up nan triumph from nan halfway statement successful added-time.

The intervening months person proved tricky. Defeats without scoring against Japan and Cote d’Ivoire, added to audible vexation from Steve Clarke complete his contractual scenario, seemed to dampen nan Tartan Army’s mood. Earlier, location was euphoria. “The number of group that travel up to you and conscionable want to shingle your manus to opportunity ‘thank you and good done’, it’s beautiful typical to consciousness that,” Clarke recalled. “You’re stepping done nan airdrome and each 2nd personification wants to shingle your hand.”

Now for nan trickier part. Clarke has an ageing squad which is ray connected extremity threat if midfielders – chiefly John McGinn and Scott McTominay – do not contribute. The goalkeeping position has been a problem for a concerted spell now. At centre-back, nan Scots are capable alternatively than strong, having operated pinch a backmost 3 aliases four. McGinn, McTominay, Andy Robertson and Ché Adams are nan manager’s go-to men erstwhile fit. Umpteen others person been alongside Clarke for a number of years; this is simply a Scotland squad precocious connected headdress numbers.

Clarke is pragmatic successful attack but it will beryllium a daze if he does not commencement pinch 2 strikers for crippled 1 against Haiti. Victory location and Scotland person a genuine chance of progression from nan first information for nan first time. There is besides a lingering logic for Clarke to astatine slightest look bold; he was castigated by supporters for antagonistic strategies successful a must-win lucifer against Hungary astatine nan past Euros.

A much protect style is apt and understandable against Morocco and Brazil, who simply put are amended teams than Scotland. Clarke’s squad tin beryllium useful successful specified a situation; they are excellently drilled and transportation a counterattacking threat.

The coach

Scotland were successful nan doldrums, pinch tourney information supposedly an unattainable dream, erstwhile Steve Clarke took connected nan position successful 2019. History will look very favourably upon nan erstwhile Chelsea player, fixed he has taken his federation to 3 retired of 4 finals. Clarke is seldom expressive successful public, which tin count against him, but retains immense respect from his squad. He takes a hands-on training-ground attack and has a menacing broadside which players are acutely alert of. Clarke’s reside to Scotland’s squad earlier that make-or-break qualifying necktie against Denmark made a monolithic impact. “It is up location pinch nan champion I person ever heard earlier a game,” said Andy Robertson.

Star player

Scott McTominay has evolved from bit-part subordinate astatine Manchester United to a leader successful Naples. He has grown successful stature and value for Scotland while reviving his nine profession and his overhead footwear successful nan Denmark triumph is etched successful history arsenic 1 of nan finest goals ever witnessed astatine Hampden Park. Alex McLeish’s 2nd tenure is regarded by galore arsenic unmemorable but it was Clarke’s predecessor who convinced this English-born midfielder to state for Scotland. McLeish’s gift to his federation pinch that move unsocial proved a important one. Scotland trust heavy connected McTominay’s gamechanging talent.

Scott McTominay’s spectacular extremity against Denmark has been immortalised successful mural shape successful Glasgow’s Somerville Drive, adjacent Hampden Park. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

One to watch

Ben Gannon-Doak’s move from Liverpool to Bournemouth has been disrupted by wounded but nan winger still gets pulses racing among Scottish fans. Gannon-Doak’s directness and gait mean he is different to those alongside him. Clarke has urged be aware among media and fans, wanting nan 20-year-old to beryllium fixed abstraction to develop, yet nan quality of his crippled is specified that nan sound is understandable. Gannon-Doak memorably reduced Josko Gvardiol to a quivering wreck erstwhile Scotland faced Croatia successful Glasgow. He will perfectly relish nan World Cup stage.

Unsung hero

Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie has softly established himself arsenic a subordinate pinch a bully Premier League profession and is closing successful connected 75 caps. The midfielder is technically impressive, carries power and offers a extremity threat. Yet nan Inverness-born subordinate often seems overlooked erstwhile praise is being issued to those wrong Clarke’s squad. One evident mentation for that is that 2 of those routinely deployed alongside him, McTominay and McGinn, are Scotland’s main stars. At 31, this whitethorn not beryllium Christie’s past World Cup but it will unquestionably beryllium nan only 1 of his prime. It would beryllium nary daze to spot him make valuable contributions.

Probable starting XI

What to expect from fans astatine games?

It is nary exaggeration to propose Scotland’s support mightiness outshine nan players. The Tartan Army will recreation en masse and successful good spirits. They person earned a estimation for their bully nature, sloppy of results. A World Cup return aft 28 years intends scores of group who person ne'er sampled this situation earlier booked up instantly, sloppy of whether they were apt to root lucifer tickets. Expect colour, kilts, bagpipes and a level of intoxicant depletion that will make an tremendous publication to nan GDP of nan United States.

Relationship pinch nan US/Trump?

A small known truth is that 34 of nan 45 presidents of nan United States person Scottish roots. None, though, are arsenic beardown arsenic that of Trump, whose mother was calved and raised successful nan Western Isles. Trump owns play resorts successful Scotland, meaning a continuing connection. The president’s emotion for Scotland tin champion beryllium described arsenic an unrequited 1 but it is surely adjacent to presume Steve Clarke’s men will beryllium Trump’s 2nd favourite squad successful nan competition. The Tartan Army, meanwhile, make it their business to beryllium non-political. The Scottish FA is intimately aligned pinch Fifa truthful a protestation aliases sound from Scotland astatine nan World Cup is highly unlikely.