Predicted Scotland World Cup 2026 XI

Published March 27, 2026 at 4:30 am

Written by J Johnson

For the first time since 1998, Scotland will be playing at the World Cup. After their heroic win over Denmark back in November, the Tartan Army’s place at the tournament was secured.

Today, we’ll look at how Scotland might line up for their first game at the 2026 World Cup. We’ve included players from clubs such as Aston Villa, Liverpool and Bournemouth in our XI – do you agree with our picks?

GK: Scott Bain

Some may gravitate toward the sentimental choice of Craig Gordon here – but based on their overall performances this season, Scott Bain deserves to be Scotland’s main man between the sticks at the 2026 World Cup.

Falkirk have had an excellent season in the Scottish Premiership this season, with Bain playing in almost all of their league games. As things stand, he has kept seven clean sheets from 30 Scottish Premiership games in 2025/26.

RB: Aaron Hickey

Aaron Hickey has had rotten luck with injuries this season, but he should be fit to play by the time that the World Cup rolls around. Anthony Ralston is another option, but Hickey is the superior pick out of the two.

An excellent attacking full-back, Hickey can also function as a left-back or as a wide midfielder – this sort of adaptability can be a godsend at a major international tournament.

CB: Scott McKenna

Battling centre-back Scott McKenna was an absolute warrior for the Tartan Army in their qualification bid – he should maintain his spot, given the lack of better options.

We don’t mean to be reductive – McKenna will make it into the team on merit, not just sentimentality. He has been outstanding for Dinamo Zagreb this season, scoring two goals and notching up three assists from the heart of defence.

CB: Grant Hanley

A similar player to McKenna, Grant Hanley and he have formed a defensive partnership for Scotland over the past year. It isn’t always successful, but they’re both very effective when it comes to defending set-pieces and long balls into the box.

A veteran of international football, his vast experience in the game could prove to be vital at the World Cup. Aged 24, he currently plays for Hibs, having joined the club in the previous summer transfer window.