Celtic player reflects on journey to World Cup selection

Celtic FC is sending a small army to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Up to eight players from the Glasgow club have been confirmed or strongly linked to squads for the tournament co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico this summer, continuing a tradition that stretches back decades.

Among them is Auston Trusty, the American defender who joined Celtic in 2025 and has earned six caps for the US Men’s National Team. He made the final 26-man squad, a selection that represents the culmination of a lifelong ambition to play on the sport’s biggest stage.

Celtic’s World Cup contingent

Daizen Maeda will suit up for Japan, bringing 27 caps and four goals worth of international experience to the squad. Benjamin Nygren carries Sweden’s hopes with nine caps and three goals to his name. Alistair Johnston, with 57+ caps, will represent co-hosts Canada, playing on home soil for at least some of the tournament.

Kieran Tierney, with more than 55 caps, and Anthony Ralston, with 25 caps, will be part of a Scotland squad making its first World Cup appearance since 1998.

Nygren’s path to the tournament deserves its own spotlight. The Swedish attacker contributed assists in both of Sweden’s playoff victories, against Ukraine and Poland, directly helping his country punch its ticket.

A tradition of exporting talent to the biggest stage

Celtic sending players to World Cups is nothing new. The club had 10 representatives at France 1998, the last tournament Scotland qualified for before this cycle.

What this means for Celtic and their fans

Scotland’s return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence adds an emotional layer that goes beyond Celtic’s club interests. Tierney and Ralston carrying the Scottish flag at a major tournament reconnects a generation of fans to a competition many had given up on ever seeing their country in again.

The tournament, running through June and July 2026, will test Celtic’s depth planning. Eight players potentially unavailable for chunks of pre-season is a logistical challenge.

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