Scotland name Stewart, Curtis in World Cup squad after long absence
Ross Stewart returns to the Scotland national team after a four-year hiatus, while teenage sensation Findlay Curtis earns his first major tournament call-up. Steve Clarke's 26-man squad includes 43-year-old Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon and faces a tough Group C opener against Haiti.
Ross Stewart’s international exile has ended. The Southampton striker, who last played for Scotland in June 2022, has been named in Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, ending a four-year absence from the national team.
The 29-year-old, who scored in Southampton’s Championship play-off semi-final win over Middlesbrough, joins a squad that also includes Hearts’ 43-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon, the tournament’s oldest outfield player. Clarke’s decision marks Stewart’s first major tournament since Euro 2020, where he made two substitute appearances.
Key Points
- ✅ Ross Stewart returns after four years out of the Scotland squad
- ⚡ Findlay Curtis, 19, earns first World Cup call-up
- 💡 Craig Gordon, 43, selected as one of three goalkeepers
Teenage winger Findlay Curtis, 19, who made his Scotland debut in March, completes a remarkable rise from Kilmarnock’s loan ranks to the World Cup squad. Curtis, who scored five goals on loan at Kilmarnock this season, becomes the youngest outfield player in Clarke’s squad. His inclusion edges out Bournemouth winger Ben Gannon-Doak, who has only recently recovered from injury.
Stewart’s recall comes after he led Southampton’s attack in the Championship play-offs, scoring the winner in the semi-final against Middlesbrough. His form this season—11 goals in 33 games—outshone several established forwards, including Torino’s Che Adams and Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland, who both made the squad despite Shankland’s 18-goal haul for Hearts this season.
📋 By The Numbers
- 11 goals — Ross Stewart’s Scotland scoring drought since 2022
- 5 goals — Findlay Curtis’ tally on loan at Kilmarnock
- 18 goals — Lawrence Shankland’s league haul for Hearts this season
The squad, announced on Tuesday, faces a daunting Group C opener against Haiti in Massachusetts on June 14, followed by fixtures against Morocco in Massachusetts on June 19 and Brazil in Miami on June 24. Clarke’s side will warm up with a friendly against Curaçao at Hampden Park on May 30 and a final tune-up against Bolivia in New Jersey on June 6.
💡 Pro Tip
Keep an eye on Lawrence Shankland. The Hearts striker has been in blistering form domestically and could be the wildcard that unlocks Scotland’s attack against elite defenses.
Tommy Conway, the 23-year-old Boro winger who scored in the Championship play-off semi-final, was ruled out by injury, leaving Stewart and Curtis as the attacking wildcards. Midfielder Lennon Miller, who made four of his five Scotland caps last year, was omitted despite a strong season at Udinese, where he made 25 appearances.
| Player | Club | World Cup Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ross Stewart | Southampton | Return after 4 years |
| Findlay Curtis | Rangers | Debut |
| Craig Gordon | Hearts | Oldest goalkeeper selected |
The goalkeeper trio—Gordon, Angus Gunn of Nottingham Forest, and Liam Kelly of Rangers—brings a mix of experience and relative youth. Gunn, who has made just one appearance for Nottingham Forest this season, remains Clarke’s first-choice goalkeeper for the tournament opener against Haiti.
Key Squad Notes
- ✅ Andy Robertson retains captaincy after 120 caps
- ⚡ John McGinn leads Scotland’s goal-scoring charts with 20 international strikes
- 💡 Eleven players from Clarke’s Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 squads are retained
The squad includes a blend of Premier League talent and overseas players, with Napoli duo Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay, Aston Villa’s John McGinn, and Liverpool’s Andy Robertson anchoring the spine. Robertson, Scotland’s record appearance-maker, will captain the side for the fifth major tournament in a row.
The inclusion of Curtis and the return of Stewart signal Clarke’s intent to blend youth with experience, though injuries to key players like Conway and Gannon-Doak’s late fitness concerns add an element of unpredictability. Scotland’s campaign kicks off against Haiti in Boston, where Clarke’s side will look to upset one of the tournament’s underdogs.