SCOTLAND BEGIN NEW ERA UNDER SEBASTIAN POCOGNOLI WITH BOLD NATIONS LEAGUE SQUAD
Date: Tuesday, 15th Sep 2026Scotland will begin life after Steve Clarke later this month with a radically reshaped squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League quadruple-header.
New Head Coach Sebastian Pocognoli has named a 28-man squad for his first matches in charge – away to Slovenia and North Macedonia, as well as home ties against Switzerland and Slovenia – and it represents a clear statement of intent for the future.
The announcement comes just three months after Scotland’s exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Clarke’s final squad in the USA, Canada and Mexico this Summer saw Scotland qualify for their first World Cup in 28 years, eventually finishing third in Group C, before he stepped down after seven years in charge.
Pocognoli now takes the reins, with his first game set to be away to Slovenia on September 26th.
Pocognoli has retained the core leadership of the squad but has made sweeping changes. Compared to Clarke’s World Cup squad, there are 11 players out and 13 new faces in.
OUT from World Cup 2026 squad:
Craig Gordon, Grant Hanley, Dom Hyam, Anthony Ralston, John Souttar, Scott McTominay, Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Lawrence Shankland and Ross Stewart.
IN to Pocognoli’s first squad:
Scott Bain, Jon McCracken, Luis Binks, Josh Doig, Colby Donovan, Luke Graham, Stephen Welsh, Josh McPake, Lennon Miller, Kieron Bowie, Oli McBurnie, Robbie Ure, James Wilson.
The turnover is particularly notable in attack. All five strikers from the summer – Adams, Dykes, Hirst, Shankland and Stewart – have been replaced. Oli McBurnie returns to the fold, while four young forwards – Bowie, Ure, Wilson and Curtis – who was listed as a midfielder at the World Cup but is now listed as a forward – are given a chance to stake a claim.
In defence, the Belgian has looked to youth and domestic form. Celtic’s Colby Donovan and Stoke City’s Luke Graham receive call-ups alongside Josh Doig, Luis Binks and Stephen Welsh.
The absence of Scott McTominay is also eye-catching, with the midfielder not included through recent heart surgery.
The spine remains familiar: Captain Andy Robertson, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly, Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Kieran Tierney, Scott McKenna, Nathan Patterson, Ryan Christie, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn, Kenny McLean and Ben Gannon-Doak all remain from the Summer.
The Fixtures
Scotland will play four Nations League matches in this window:
v Slovenia (A)
v Switzerland (H)
v North Macedonia (A)
v Slovenia (H)
The matches will serve as Pocognoli’s first opportunity to implement his style ahead of the road to EURO 2028, which Scotland will co-host.
Sebastian Pocognoli:
Age: 39
Nationality: Belgian
Contract: 2-year deal until Summer 2028
History: Becomes only the second foreign manager in Scotland Men’s senior history after German, Berti Vogts (2002-2004). Pocognoli is also the youngest permanent manager in modern times.
Playing Career: A left-back, capped 13 times by Belgium, Pocognoli played for Genk, AZ Alkmaar – where he won the Eredivisie under Louis van Gaal – Standard Liege, Hannover 96, West Bromwich Albion, Brighton & Hove Albion on loan and Union Saint-Gilloise. He faced Scotland at Hampden as a player for Belgium in 2013.
Coaching Career:
Pocognoli managed Belgium`s U16 and U18 sides before taking his first senior job at Union Saint-Gilloise. He led Union to their first Belgian League title in 90 years in 2024/25, his debut season. He joined AS Monaco in October 2025, guiding them to the Champions League Knockout Phase where they lost to Paris Saint-Germain, before leaving after a 7th-place finish in Ligue 1. He was described by the SFA as “one of Europe’s brightest emerging coaching talents” with an “aggressive, front-foot style of play”.
On his appointment, Pocognoli said: “It’s an honour to be asked to become Head Coach. Scotland’s supporters are famous for their passion – most recently at the World Cup in the USA – and I have experienced it myself. I will do everything I can to give them a team to be proud of and build on the success already achieved by my predecessor.”
The New Faces:
Pocognoli’s squad features several players who were not involved this Summer or are seeking their first caps:
Goalkeepers:
Scott Bain (34) returns to the senior squad after continuing to play consistently for Scottish Premiership side Falkirk. Bain has also represented sides such as Celtic, Dundee and Alloa during his career.
Bradford City’s Jon McCracken, 26, is called up after impressing domestically and is uncapped at senior level. He has began the campaign strongly following a Summer move from Steven Pressley`s Dundee.
Defenders:
Luis Binks (25, Brondby): The English-born centre-back who qualifies through his Scottish grandparents. He is formerly a Spurs Academy product, who has also previously played at Coventry, Bologna and CF Montreal.
Josh Doig (24, Sassuolo): The former Hibernian left-back, now in Serie A has been a regular for Scotland U21s, but will be hoping to break into the senior squad on a more regular basis now.
Colby Donovan (20, Celtic): A highly rated right-back, Donovan was one of the breakthrough players in the Scottish Premiership last season. This is his first senior call-up, having started the season strongly for Celtic, playing ahead of Tony Ralston and newly signed Jordan Lotomba, as well as the injured Alistair Johnston.
Luke Graham (22) is a commanding centre-half and has been a key to Scotland U21s in recent times. Like McCracken, Graham made the move south from Dundee in the Summer, joining EFL Championship side Stoke City.
Stephen Welsh, 26, is a centre-back who has been around the Scottish domestic scene for years, but, it was only last season where he really came to the fore, on loan at Motherwell from Celtic. After making a permanent move to Swansea City in the Summer, he now gets a full chance at international level under Pocognoli.
Midfielders:
Josh McPake (25, Heart of Midlothian): The winger who has rebuilt his career in the lower leagues after early hype, deservedly gets a first call up after impressing under Wouter Vrancken at Tynecastle this Summer.
Lennon Miller (20): Widely regarded as one of Scotland’s top midfield prospects, he missed out on Steve Clarke`s World Cup squad. The Captain of Motherwell at 18, the central midfielder already has significant first-team experience. Miller currently plys his trade in Italy with Udinese.
Forwards:
Kieron Bowie (23, Sassuolo): The former Raith Rovers striker, who joined Hellas Verona in Italy from Hibernian last season, continues to play in Serie A this season but with Sassuolo. He will hope to gain further caps, with 2 already to his name so far.
Oli McBurnie, 30, is back in the English Premier League with Hull City. He returns after five years out of the squad. He has 17 caps, but is yet to score for Scotland.
Robbie Ure (22, Sevilla): The powerfully built striker now playing in Spain, has been a name on many supporters` lips for a first call up. The former Scotland youth international made a Summer move to La Liga from Swedish side Sirius, where he scored 31 goals in 50 appearances.
James Wilson (19, Heart of Midlothian): A prolific scorer at youth level and now breaking into the Hearts first team on a more consistent basis under Wouter Vrancken, he is Considered one of the most exciting attackers in the country. After a spell on loan with Tottenham Hotspur`s Premier League 2 side in the second-half of last term, Wilson has scored some big goals so far this campaign, including a stunner in the Conference League Play-Offs against Rapid Vienna and an Edinburgh Derby opener at Easter Road.
Findlay Curtis, 20, was in the World Cup squad as a midfielder, but is now listed as a forward after a strong start to the season at Ibrox. The youngster showed glimpses of what he could do last season, particularly whilst on loan to Kilmarnock in the latter part of last term, which secured his seat on the plane for the USA, Canada and Mexico. He will be looking to carry on the strong performances he showed in the last embers of the Steve Clarke era.
However, a new era officially begins at Hampden next week, when the players report for training.
Come On Scotland!! 🏴
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