Findlay Curtis goes to the 2026 World Cup as Scotland's youngest squad member, and the move that pushed him there was a January loan to Kilmarnock. Before that switch, he had managed just 13 minutes in six Rangers league matches. At Kilmarnock, he scored five goals in 14 appearances and turned a quiet first half of the season into something much more useful.

How the Kilmarnock loan changed his season

The numbers tell you why Kilmarnock took the gamble. They were 11th on 14 points when Curtis signed, and they finished 10th on 40 points, six clear of the relegation play-off spot. Curtis was part of that improvement, not the only reason for it, but his arrival gave Neil McCann an attacker who delivered quickly.

He scored four of his five goals in his final five outings, which is the sort of finish that gets noticed by a national manager. Steve Clarke said, "Young players need to play football. If they want to improve, they have to play," and he added, "Sometimes that can involve making big decisions. For Findlay to leave Rangers in January and go to Kilmarnock, and then you have the ability to back up that decision, things can work in your favour."

Why Scotland moved for him

That is the clearest reading of the call-up. Curtis did not simply get picked because he was young or because he was available. He earned the place by playing, scoring and showing he could handle a proper run of games after barely getting on the pitch at Rangers.

McCann called the news "absolutely delighted" and said, "Fin has been a breath of fresh air to work with, and we wish him nothing but the best with Scotland this summer." Andy Halliday was equally direct, saying Curtis was "vindicated in going out on loan and getting first-team experience."

Curtis now heads into the World Cup with a simple story behind him, one that the selection itself supports. He went from 13 minutes in six league games to a loan spell that produced five goals, a stronger Kilmarnock finish and a place in Scotland's squad. The next step is the tournament itself.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →