Craig Gordon, the oldest player in Scotland’s World Cup squad at 43, has suggested he may call time on his career after the 2026 tournament. He hasn’t made a final decision yet, but the writing appears to be on the wall for one of Scottish football’s most enduring figures.
For a goalkeeper who nearly retired in the summer of 2025, the fact that he’s even having this conversation from inside a World Cup camp is remarkable. Gordon was talked out of walking away by Scotland manager Steve Clarke, who convinced him to extend his contract for one more year. The carrot: a genuine shot at playing in a World Cup for the first time since Scotland last appeared at one in 1998.
A 28-year wait, ended by a 43-year-old
The veteran keeper was instrumental during the qualifying campaign, stepping into the first-choice role for crucial matches despite a season at Heart of Midlothian that was disrupted by injury. His most significant contribution came in November 2025, when Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 in a result that effectively sealed their ticket to North America.
Gordon was born on 31 December 1982. The last time Scotland played at a World Cup, he was 15 years old. Now he’s preparing to represent his country at the tournament as its eldest statesman, with a chance to become the second-oldest player ever to appear in a World Cup final tournament.
