Heart of Midlothian goalkeeper Craig Gordon has defied age to earn a spot in Scotland's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 43-year-old has made three appearances for the club this season, and his inclusion in the squad caps one of the more improbable comeback arcs in international football. Scotland named Gordon in their squad for the tournament, which will be their first World Cup appearance since 1998. The team has been drawn into Group C alongside Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil, with their first match scheduled for June 14, 2026, against Haiti. Gordon has earned over 80 caps for Scotland across a career that has stretched across two decades. He has spoken openly about feeling that the opportunity to play at a major tournament had passed him by, but his contribution came when it mattered most, during the final stages of World Cup qualifying. In November 2025, he featured in Scotland's last two qualifiers, including a pivotal 4-2 victory over Denmark, which helped secure the nation's place in the tournament. Gordon became the oldest European to appear in a World Cup qualifier, breaking a record that had stood since 1957. That previous record belonged to Stanley Matthews. Scotland's repeated failures to qualify for World Cups and European Championships meant that Gordon's best years came and went without the stage they deserved. Now, he will have the opportunity to play at the World Cup, and his inclusion in the squad is a testament to his dedication and perseverance.