Celtic are champions again after one of the most dramatic title races Scottish football has ever seen. However, for many of the Hoops' stars, this campaign is far from over. The biggest-ever World Cup kicks off on 11 June, the tournament having been expanded to 48 nations for the very first time, meaning 1,248 players will be heading stateside in the coming weeks.
Of course, Scotland have qualified for the first time since France '98, but the Celts' cosmopolitan squad means they will be represented in a fair few national teams this summer. Daizen Maeda, for example, scored for Japan against Croatia in Al Wakrah four years ago, and will likely be a key figure in Hajime Moriyasu's side seeking the Samurai Blue's first-ever World Cup quarter-final. There are plenty of other Celts who could raise their profile during the course of a few weeks in America.
Celtic could have one of their biggest World Cup contingents
Celtic are set for one of their biggest-ever contingents of World Cup representatives.
Numbers of Celtic players in World Cup squads
World Cup | Number of Celtic players |
|---|---|
Qatar 2022 | 4 |
Russia 2018 | 4 |
Brazil 2014 | 4 |
South Africa 2010 | 4 |
Germany 2006 | 3 |
Korea Japan 2002 | 2 |
France '98 | 10 (8 Scottish) |
USA '94 | 1 |
Italia '90 | 3 (1 Scottish) |
Mexico '86 | 2 (both Scottish) |
Spain '82 | 2 (both Scottish) |
Argentina '78 | Zero |
Germany '74 | 4 (all Scottish) |
Mexico '70 | Zero |
Celtic's current record for World Cup representatives is ten, sending that many to France '98. However, eight of them were in Craig Brown's Scotland squad, alongside Danish duo Marc Rieper and Morten Wieghorst. At each of the last four editions however, only four Celts have been named in squads, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Josip Juranović, Aaron Mooy and Maeda their only representatives in Qatar. However, that record of ten might just be matched this summer.
Every Celtic player expected at the 2026 World Cup
So far, as the various national teams are naming their confirmed squads ahead of the 1 June deadline, four Celtic players have been confirmed to be World Cup-bound, with more to follow.
Every confirmed Celtic player heading to the World Cup
Players | Nation | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
Daizen Maeda | Japan | 27 | 4 |
Benjamin Nygren | Sweden | 9 | 3 |
Yang Hyun-jun | Korea Republic | 8 | 0 |
Sebastian Tounekti | Tunisia | 10 | 1 |
- The aforementioned Daizen Maeda is regularly deployed at left-wing-back by Japan, starting and captaining the Samurai Blue at Hampden in March, so could be a key contributor this summer. His compatriot Reo Hatate did not make the cut.
- Benjamin Nygren is potentially the most-likely Celtic player to shine this summer. He netted three times for Sweden during 2025, and is very much central to Graham Potter's plans. Nygren started both of the the Blågult's play-off victories in March, registering assists as they beat Ukraine and then Poland, set to complete an ultra-talented front three alongside Anthony Elanga and Viktor Gyökeres.
- Sebastian Tounekti was out of the picture for Tunisia for four years, before returning to the Eagles of Carthage's squad a year ago. Well, after featuring in all three of their AFCON group games in December, the winger scored his first international goal against Haiti in March and, given that Sabri Lamouchi's team really lack goals, he is in contention to be a starter.
- Yang Hyun-jun has made the cut for Korea Republic, having earnt eight caps to date, featuring during March's friendlies against Côte d'Ivoire and Austria. The 23 year old is yet to start a match for the Taegeuk Warriors, so is unlikely to be a pivotal figure for Hong Myung-bo's team, but could still see some minutes.
Every Celtic player in contention to be at the 2026 World Cup
Players | Nation | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
Julián Araujo | Mexico | 16 | 0 |
Alistair Johnston | Canada | 56 | 1 |
Kieran Tierney | Scotland | 55 | 2 |
Anthony Ralston | Scotland | 25 | 1 |
Auston Trusty | United States | 6 | 0 |
Marcelo Saracchi | Uruguay | 11 | 0 |
Michel-Ange Balikwisha | DR Congo | 5 | 0 |
- Despite having suffered a severe thigh and quad strain against Aberdeen on 4 March, not featuring since, Julián Araujo has been named in Javier Aguirre's provisional 55-man Mexico squad. The right-back started el Tri's Gold Cup quarter-final and semi wins over Saudi Arabia and Honduras last summer, but his fitness makes it highly unlikely that he'll make the cut. Mexico's final squad will be announced on 27 May.
- Alistair Johnston has rarely featured this season, but is back just in time. Between 20 August and 25 April, he saw only 26 minutes of action due to two serious hamstring tears. However, he returned and started the final four Premiership fixtures of the campaign, playing as if he'd never been away. So, the 27 year old is expected to be Jesse Marsch's first-choice right back on home soil. Canada's final squad will be announced on 29 May, with Johnston to be included.
- There are likely to be only two Celts in Steve Clarke's squad. Callum McGregor has retired from international football, while James Forrest hasn't been called up since Euro 2024. Kieran Tierney will remain one of the Tartan Army's first names on the team sheet, while Anthony Ralston could see some minutes at right-back, given that the other players in that position are struggling for fitness. Scotland's final squad will be announced on 19 May.
- Cameron Carter-Vickers would likely have been named in Mauricio Pochettino's squad, but his World Cup hopes were ended by an ACL injury suffered against Sturm Graz in October. However, his club teammate Auston Trusty is in contention to not only be included, but start for the United States, after impressing during March's friendly against Portugal in Atlanta. USA's final squad will be announced on 26 May.
- Slightly less likely this one, but there is a chance that Marcelo Saracchi will be representing Uruguay this summer. He has 11 caps for la Celeste to date, starting against both Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan last October, albeit Marcelo Bielsa called up a B-squad for that camp. Thus, he is forecast to just miss out. Uruguay's final squad must be announced by 1 June.
- Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been a peripheral figure at Celtic so far, but could be World Cup-bound. Last year, he switched his international allegiance from Belgium to DR Congo, featuring in les Léopards' CAF play-off final win over Nigeria, as well as in three of their four fixtures at the Cup of Nations. It is in the balance whether or not he'll be called up by Sébastien Desabre, given his lack of club involvement. DR Congo' final squad will be announced on 18 May.
Celtic players who will not be at the 2026 World Cup
- Arne Engels has not been called up by Belgium; he has not featured for the Red Devils since November 2024. The national teams of Liam Scales (Ireland), Kelechi Ịheanachọ (Nigeria) and
Viljami Sinisalo (Finland) failed to qualify, but they could be in friendly action in early-June. Lastly, Reo Hatate was not included in Japan's squad.
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