Ross Stewart named in Scotland's 26-man World Cup squad

Southampton striker Ross Stewart has been included in Scotland's final 26-man squad for the World Cup. The forward earns his first international call-up in four years.

Stewart has been in strong form recently, scoring eight goals in his last 16 appearances. His current season tally stands at 11 goals. These goals include a vital strike against Arsenal in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final and an equaliser in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough.

The 29-year-old's return to the international setup follows a period away from the national team. While he earned two caps during his time at Sunderland, his most recent appearance for Scotland was his debut in June 2022. He has not been selected for a squad since that debut.

Scotland will compete in Group C during the tournament. The team is scheduled to play three matches in the group stage. They face Haiti on Sunday 14th June, followed by Morocco on Friday 19th June, and Brazil on Wednesday 24th June.

The national team is aiming to reach the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in their history. Stewart will look to contribute to this goal as he seeks to make an impact on the world stage.