'Signing of summer': The Scotsman lands Pat Nevin as columnist for World Cup
Former Scotland internationalist and hugely respective pundit signs up for World Cup
The transfer window may not be officially open yet, but The Scotsman has moved quickly to secure one of the signings of the summer for what is sure to be a hugely exciting period in Scottish sporting history.
We are delighted to announce that former Scotland internationalist and hugely respected football pundit Pat Nevin will be The Scotsman’s columnist for the 2026 World Cup.
Pat will give you insight, analysis and colour from the tournament - starting on Tuesday when he reacts to head coach Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad announcement.
Readers can subscribe to The Scotsman for just £2 a month to unlock full access to our Premium content, including Pat Nevin’s exclusive insight, colour and analysis from the 2026 World Cup. Subscribe today HERE.
Capped 28 times by Scotland with five goals to his name, Pat is one of the most authoritative voices in the game and will be a major part of The Scotsman’s World Cup team. He will in America with our chief football writer Alan Pattullo and our features writer Katharine Hay, who will bring you their version of events on the ground.
Pat is relishing the prospect of being front and centre of The Scotsman’s World Cup coverage. “I was telling my family and my wife's family and all the rest of it that I'd be doing this,” he reacted. “And I couldn't believe the levels of excitement.
“It was like, wow. And I've written for a lot of people before. But that's gone absolutely through the roof. And we all know the history of the Scotsman. The papers are the broadsheets, the serious newspapers that take serious comment from sports journalists as well as all other parts of the paper. There's a real joy in that.
“And the fact that I'm kind of allowed to do my own thing is a good thing as well!”
What to expect from Pat Nevin x The Scotsman
Pat will provide video and social media analysis for The Scotsman as well as a written column. He is also a major part of The Scotsman’s upcoming written and video feature on Scotland’s Greatest Goals, which is due for release later this month.
“I'm totally invested in every side of it,” Pat continued. “The brilliance of top 25 goals and then re-enacting the top five, which was absolutely fantastic online. And things like that that we do that are imaginative, inventive, fun as well.
”There's something about when you can do things (a) right away online and hit people or (b) with your camera. You know, face to it. The emotion is there. You feel that emotion and you can give that an emotion. And it's a big part of what my media history has been. You need to give people something that is interesting, informative, entertaining and fun as well.
“I've got a phrase that I've always used for every part of journalism I've ever done. I take journalism very seriously and always have. While I was a player, I always thought I'm going to be a journalist after this. Tell people something they might not know. That's it. That's my absolute mantra.
“It's always been my mantra. Because you can read anything you like and be clever clogs as much as you like. But when I'm reading and I'm listening and I'm watching, I want somebody to say something and I go I didn't know that.
“I didn't think of that. I hadn't seen it in that view. You know, you may not agree with it. But an alternative view as well as obviously what you see in front of you.”
Pat is a veteran of many World Cups - but believes this one could be a career high.
“Since I've been doing them, since 1998, for various outlets, you'd think I'd get bored with it,” Pat continued. “But after that one, where Scotland get knocked out again, I thought, well, I'll look forward to the next one Scotland play. And I've waited all this time.
“And tournament after tournament, I've gone, I've loved it, it's been great, so many adventures. However, it didn't have Scotland. And it's just that little bit was always there.
And I've broadcast on TV, radio, writing about it. But you want that extra little of your own country. And also, add on the Scotland fans on top.
Add on the fact that, you know, Clarkey is a great mate. We've got a team that not only is pretty good but is unbelievably likeable. So you add all this together. And I'm so excited about it, as much as any World Cup. And I know some people have downers on World Cups. And this even beats Brazil for me, because Scotland are there.”
Asked what his expectation is of Scotland in the World Cup, Pat replied: “Same as everybody else, you just need to get out of the group. And once you're out of the group, which is no easy matter. Because, you know, the quality of Brazil, Morocco are fabulous. So, might mean beating Haiti, and maybe scraping a draw. Or maybe just beating Haiti. But once after that, I think it's pure relaxation.
“Of course, it can go anywhere after that. You can get a good draw or a bad draw. It's all about who's fit, who's injured, who's on form. There are a million things that happen after that. It's a cup. It feels like a cup competition after that.
“So, you don't look any further than that. You've just done it, and you hope you get a good draw. There's no point in saying, oh, we can get to the quarter-finals, then you draw Argentina. So, you don't know. And that's one of the beauties of the World Cup.”
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