The SPFL-Scotland Connection
The 23 SPFL clubs with at least one senior appearance by a Scotland World Cup squad member.
Scotland’s 2026 World Cup squad has roots across the SPFL, with appearances made by the squad at 23 of the current 42 clubs. This exercise counts senior appearances only, so Billy Gilmour isn’t included at Rangers, for example, even though he spent nearly a decade in the Ibrox academy.
The Connections
Despite having only two current players in the squad, Celtic are the club with the most connections to the national team, with six of the 26 having made a senior appearance for the club. Current Scotland squad members Anthony Ralston and Kieran Tierney are joined by four former Celts, including Ben Gannon-Doak, who made a couple of senior appearances before moving to Liverpool.
Rangers are joint-second for connections: Liam Kelly, John Souttar and Findlay Curtis are joined by former right-back Nathan Patterson. I’ve also included Lawrence Shankland, as he has now signed for Rangers, although he won’t make his senior debut for the club until the new season.
Like Rangers, Aberdeen have five squad connections, with Scott McKenna and Lewis Ferguson two that have earnt the Dons decent profits since leaving in recent years.
Update: DM request asking if I missed Craig Gordon’s spell at Cowdenbeath. While Craig Gordon did play with Cowdenbeath, and
Ross Stewart played for Albion Rovers, neither are currently part of the SPFL.
Similarly Craig Gordon was on the coaching staff at Dumbarton in 2013, where he feared he would have to retire from football - but he never made a first team appearance for the Sons.
The Players
