Much has been suggested of lack of strength in depth of potential Scotland World Cup goalkeepers for Steve Clarke. Are they suggestions true or exaggerated? This is the 1st of 3 parts of a look far and wide at keepers still playing, to have been suggested as Scotland goalies. Who’s likeliest to board the plane? To find out more, read on.
1) Vincent Angelini
| Age | 22 |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 0 |
| Year of last full cap | N/A |
| Current club | FK Jerv |
| Current club division | Norwegian 3rd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 57.2 (203rd globally) |
Background
Angelini’s grandfather, Celtic’s Davie Hay, played in all 3 Scotland games at the 1974 World Cup Finals, returning home unbeaten. After being highly rated as a youngster at Celtic, Angelini transferred to the development setups at Watford and then Brentford. With zero first team minutes at both clubs, he next moved to the Saudi League in September 2024. However as 3rd choice at Al-Riyadh, again he didn’t gain any first team minutes.
Recent form
Next, in the summer of 2025 he was looked at by Waldhof Mannheim and USL Dunkerque before signing in September for FK Jerv. There, he started the last 6 games of Jerv’s league season, finally getting 1st team football. Encouragingly, in November he signed a contract extension. He is 1 of many in this feature whose best days are very likely ahead of them.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Of those interested in playing for Scotland, he’s the least likely in this feature. Angelini needs to rack up club 1st team appearances and ideally move up the football food chain for realistic Scotland consideration.
2) Jordan Archer
| Age | 32 |
| Full Scotland caps | 1 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 23 |
| Year of last full cap | 2018 (away v Peru) |
| Current club | Portsmouth |
| Current club division | English 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 78.7 (6th globally) |
Background
Archer since leaving Millwall in 2019 has been a backup goalkeeper at numerous clubs, without cementing 1st place in the team. In his journey, he made 4 Motherwell appearances in a 2020 loan spell, to cover Trevor Carson’s injury. He has over 260 career 1st team appearances to date.
Recent form
Archer has been told he is free to leave by Portsmouth to find another club. A summer 2025 move to Salford City didn’t happen. He is currently 3rd choice at Portsmouth with zero 1st team minutes and only 1 appearance on the bench this season.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Unrealistic. For many reasons, he needs a move.
3) Scott Bain
| Age | 34 |
| Full Scotland caps | 3 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 1 |
| Year of last full cap | 2019 (away v San Marino) |
| Current club | Falkirk |
| Current club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 72.6 (36th globally) |
Background
Experienced keeper whose career seems in upswing playing-wise. Bain has near 350, 1st team appearances, at Elgin City, Alloa Athletic, Dundee, Hibernian, Celtic and Falkirk. After 60+ appearances in his 1st three Celtic seasons, he then made only 8 appearances in his last 4 seasons at Parkhead. He told Sky Sports in November of his time out of the Celtic 1st team, “it’s difficult at times when you’ve got a family, you’ve got your house and mortgage, and the same as everyone else you’ve got bills to pay, so it’s difficult to leave a contract that’s there for you.”
Recent form
His summer signing by Falkirk has proved good business. Recognising Bain’s good form, even smarter has been Falkirk signing him on an improved longer term deal, to fight off clubs further up the money chain. Falkirk currently and impressively are punching above their weight at 6th in Scotland’s top flight. Clarke recalled Bain to the squad in November 2025 for the WC qualifiers v Greece and Denmark, to cover injury to Angus Gunn. Bain added to Sky about his call up, “I feel the most ready I’ve probably felt in years. I feel in a good rhythm. I feel like I’m playing well.”
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Very much in contention for the 3rd seat on the plane.
4) Chris Brady
| Age | 21 |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 0 |
| Year of last full cap | N/A |
| Current club | Chicago Fire |
| Current club division | American 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 76.8 (11th globally) |
Background
Wide press coverage in 2025 reported Brady has Scots ancestry that meets FIFA international eligibility. Ambiguity of that Scots connection suggests it’s likely at grandparent level; that though is a speculative comment. Some outlets such as this & this framed the report framed the report in an inaccurate/misleading manner, claiming comments Brady made indicated his desire to play for Scotland.
Looking specifically at Brady’s comments and ignoring the journalistic filler, no mention was made of playing for Scotland. In previous interviews, he has spoken of his ambition to represent USA. Given USA have automatic WC 2026 qualification as hosts, playing for USA would have much appeal. In contrast Scotland at the time, had the prospect ahead of a challenging qualification campaign ahead v Denmark, Greece and Belarus.
Brady was part of the USA squad at the CONCACAF cup last summer. He is 3rd choice USA keeper and yet to attain a full cap. If he remains eligible after the World Cup, then maybe playing for Scotland as a shop window to European clubs, may seem a potentially more attractive proposition. That though seems wildly speculative.
Recent form
Playing in the MLS means he plays in the highest Opta ranked division, of anyone in this feature who plays regular 1st team football. Brady has 90+ career 1st team appearances to date. He has been Chicago Fire 1st choice for the last 3 seasons.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Very high, for USA. Smart money currently seems on Chris Brady never playing for Scotland.
5) Zander Clark
| Age | 33 |
| Full Scotland caps | 4 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 0 |
| Year of last full cap | 2024 (away v Gibraltar) |
| Current club | Doncaster Rovers (loaned by Heart of Midlothian) |
| Current club division | English 3rd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 72.6 (35th globally) |
Background
A St Johnstone legend not just for his goalkeeping, when winning a 2021 Scottish Cup and League Cup double. Clark headed an assist at a corner kick for Chris Kane’s quarter-final injury time equaliser v Rangers. Highly experienced, Clark has now reached 400 career first team appearances, having also played for Elgin City and Queen of the South.
After initially doing well at Hearts during Craig Gordon’s long term injury, form drop means Clark hasn’t played for the Tynecastle club’s first team since August 2025. Alexander Schwolow signed for Hearts on the last day of that month, and looks every inch a goalkeeper with 206 appearances in the German top tier. If Schwolow were to uncover a Scots grandparent, at the moment he’d fancy his chances of not just being on the plane, but of also starting v Haiti. Meanwhile back in reality, Schwolow’s arrival thus meant Clark dropped to Hearts 3rd choice GK.
Recent form
Clark has started all 3 games since his January 10th loan to Doncaster, notching 2 wins and a draw. As he said to the Doncaster Free Press:
“It wasn’t at the forefront of my mind or a deciding factor as to whether I came on loan or not. But if I can come here and play as many games then it gives the manager (Steve Clarke) a thought. So it’s in the back of my mind and I’d love to be a part of it. You want to represent your country and go to a major tournament. I did that at the Euros but a World Cup would be that extra bit special, given how long it’s been since Scotland have been there.”
Should all things stay as they are, Clark is the Scots goalkeeper playing regularly whose club is nearest to the English football pyramid’s highest level. Some in Scotland may sniff at England’s 3rd tier. Looked at clinically though, at time of publishing this article, Opta rate England’s 3rd tier and the Scots 1st tier on exactly the same score.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Maybe a chance if he shows good form?
6) Ross Doohan
| Age | 27 |
| Full Scotland caps | 1 |
| Age group Scotland caps | 20 |
| Year of last full cap | 2025 (away v Liechtenstein) |
| Current club | Celtic |
| Current club division | Scots 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 72.6 (36th globally) |
Background
Doohan in his early career played in Scotland on loan from Celtic at Greenock Morton, Ayr United, Ross County and Dundee United. He has also played for Tranmere Rovers and Forest Green Rovers. Doohan’s full Scotland debut was in summer 2025, as a late call up after Cieran Slicker’s difficulties when debuting internationally a few days earlier v Iceland. Doohan had just ended a 2 season stint at Aberdeen, understudying Kelle Roos and then Dimitar Mitov.
Doohan seemed the sensible summer call up choice of available fit goalkeepers for the trip to Vaduz. Before that Liechtenstein game in June, Doohan’s 169 1st team appearances at that point, was over 100 more than Jon McCracken. Doohan in April had also played more recent 1st team football compared to McCracken (February). Ross Laidlaw ended that season 2nd choice at relegated Ross County. Nicky Hogarth played that season just ended, in a division below Doohan, McCracken and Laidlaw. Craig MacGillivray was 1st choice again at MK Dons, but had only been so for the season’s last 5 games.
Hence, Doohan got the call and is now a full internationalist. The then 18 year old Callan McKenna from the Bournemouth development setup, was also called up at the time to the squad.
Recent form
Doohan commendably said of his debut cap that he hoped it would be the 1st of many. Currently though he is 3rd choice at Celtic, for whom he has zero 1st team minutes this season. Doohan features on the Celtic bench in Champions League games to fulfil UEFA home grown player requirements.
Current 2026 World Cup squad selection likelihood
Unrealistic given his recent lack of 1st team football and that he isn’t established as a Scotland squad regular.
