Scotland’s manager, Steve Clarke, has admitted that while the majority of his World Cup roster is essentially locked in, he remains undecided about two specific positions. The 62‑year‑old coach, who has guided the nation back to the tournament for the first time since the 1998 edition, said he has "more or less" settled on the core of his group, but a couple of spots still require careful thought. Clarke will soon announce an initial 55‑man shortlist, which will then be trimmed to a final 26‑player squad. Those 26 will travel to the United States for a pre‑tournament training camp in Fort Lauderdale before Scotland’s opening match against Haiti on June 14, scheduled for 2 a.m.
local time. The backbone of the team that secured qualification – captain Andy Robertson, midfield stalwarts Scott McTominay and John McGinn, young talents Billy Gilmour and Kenny McLean, among others – are all expected to be on that flight. The lingering uncertainty revolves around the goalkeeper position.
Since the European Championship, six keepers have been tried, but the two leading candidates have seen limited action at club level. Angus Gunn, who started all three Euro 2024 fixtures for Scotland, has managed only 45 minutes of football for Nottingham Forest this season. Meanwhile, veteran Craig Gordon’s minutes at Hearts have been curtailed by recurring injuries, and Alexander Schwolow’s form has also been questioned. Clarke told Sky Sports that the window for new names to break into the squad is narrowing, with just two or three weeks left in the domestic season.
"It's going to be difficult now for new names to break into the squad with only two or three weeks of the season to go. I'm more or less set in my mind," he said. "If I'm being honest, I've probably still got two positions where I haven't quite decided what to do or who to pick." Beyond the goalkeeper dilemma, Clarke is also weighing the overall balance of the squad – how many defenders, midfielders and forwards to bring. He wants to ensure the group can execute his tactical vision across different match scenarios while maintaining optimal fitness levels.
"There's also the thought of how many defenders do I take? How many midfielders? How many forwards?
Just to try and get that balance right, so that when we get there the squad is capable of playing the way I want them to play in certain matches, and making sure we are in the best possible shape," he explained. Clarke made these comments while accepting the Special Merit award at the PFA Scotland awards ceremony.
The honor, previously bestowed on legends such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Graeme Souness and Sir Kenny Dalglish, recognized Clarke’s achievement in steering Scotland to their first men’s World Cup in 28 years. He became the first Scottish manager to qualify for three major tournaments – Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and now the 2026 World Cup.
Reflecting on the significance of the milestone, Clarke said, "It's a reflection of how well the team have done. I've had help from the coaches, and a massive help from the players and we've managed to get to a World Cup after so long – 28 years.
For a country like Scotland – that is too long. The reaction since we qualified tells you that." He also acknowledged the logistical challenges that accompany a World Cup appearance.
"It brings its own stresses, and there are lots of things to organise – but it's been enjoyable. To be at the World Cup, now our third tournament we've qualified for – the first one was a little bit Covid‑affected, then obviously going to Germany for Euro 2024 was a great experience." Clarke highlighted the growing experience within the squad, noting that the players now have a clearer understanding of what is required at a major tournament. "We have a little bit more tournament experience now.
We knew what we were looking for, and we've managed to secure some fantastic facilities out in the USA that hopefully will help us prepare for the tournament. Hopefully, this time, we get it right and qualify out of the group," he said.
The Scottish Football Association has arranged for the team to use top‑class training venues in Florida, aiming to replicate the conditions they will face in the United States during the competition. The coaching staff is also focusing on fine‑tuning set‑piece routines, defensive organization, and attacking patterns that suit the varied opposition they may encounter in the group stage. While the final squad list is still pending, the prevailing sentiment among fans and pundits is that Clarke’s careful deliberation will pay off.
The two undecided spots could be filled by emerging talents from the Scottish Premiership or by experienced players returning from injury, depending on form and fitness in the coming weeks. In summary, Steve Clarke has largely cemented Scotland’s World Cup roster but is still weighing two crucial roles – likely the goalkeeper and an out‑field position – to achieve the right squad composition. His focus remains on striking a balance between defensive solidity, midfield creativity and attacking potency, ensuring the team arrives in the United States well‑prepared, fit and ready to compete on football’s biggest stage.