Scotland Recall Kerr and Thomas for World Cup Play-Offs

Scotland have turned to experience and flexibility at exactly the right moment, recalling Sam Kerr and Martha Thomas for next month’s Women’s World Cup play-off against the Czech Republic. Head coach Melissa Andreatta says Kerr’s ability to adapt across positions is a “super strength” as Scotland begin the final push toward Brazil 2027.

Versatility back in focus for Scotland

Kerr returns to the squad for the first time in almost a year, having last appeared for Scotland off the bench against the Netherlands in February 2025. A natural midfielder, she has recently been used at right-back for Liverpool, and that positional range has clearly impressed Andreatta as Scotland prepare for a two-legged tie that could shape their road to the tournament.

“I love versatility,” Andreatta said. “It’s great to have a balance in the squad, but it’s great to have a player who has a position as their priority but they have a position they can be moved into as well. It’s a super strength.”

For Scotland, the timing feels significant. They are only four games away from a first major tournament since the 2019 Women’s World Cup, and the return of players who can cover multiple roles may prove vital in a tightly packed qualification run.

Thomas returns after a long wait

Martha Thomas is also back in the frame after last featuring in October, when she earned her 50th cap. The Newcastle United striker adds another attacking option to a squad that has been built around momentum, flexibility and competition for places.

Thomas was one of several players who had been expected to feature earlier, but Andreatta pointed to timing and preparation as key reasons for the delayed recalls. That patience now gives Scotland a stronger-looking group heading into a decisive period.

“In any match or tournament football, we need squad depth,” Andreatta said. “You need more than a 12-13 player roster to get deep into a tournament.”

That message underlines Scotland’s broader strategy. Rather than rely on a fixed core, Andreatta wants a squad that can shift shape, cover injuries and stay threatening in multiple phases of the game.

Who is in and who drops out?

Several familiar names also return, including Freya Gregory and Sophie Howard, both of whom missed the last camp through injury concerns. Celtic midfielder Maria McAneny is back too after scoring in Scotland’s 7-0 win over Luxembourg in March.

There are some notable absentees as well. Defenders Leah Eddie and Kenzie Weir drop out, while strikers Eilidh Adams and Laura Berry miss out on this occasion. Mia McAulay, meanwhile, keeps her place after being added late for the June double-header and continuing to impress for Aston Villa.

Scotland squad snapshot

That balance shows Andreatta’s intent to keep the team flexible. It also suggests Scotland are preparing for a play-off in which tactical adjustments, bench impact and game management may matter as much as the starting XI.

What the Czech Republic tie means

Scotland travel to Pardubice, east of Prague, on Friday 9 October before hosting the Czech Republic at St Mirren Park four days later. The winner of the tie will move on to another two-legged play-off against either Sweden or Lithuania, with a ticket to next summer’s World Cup in Brazil at stake.

The group phase already showed Scotland can deliver under pressure. Andreatta’s unbeaten side topped their qualifying group on goal difference, finishing one point clear of Belgium. That consistency has built confidence, but the next round carries a different level of tension.

Andreatta, who was part of Australia’s 2023 World Cup setup as assistant coach, says that experience has reinforced her belief in building depth rather than depending on a small core of players. The lesson is clear: the deeper the squad, the better the chances of surviving a demanding qualifying run.

Momentum, depth and belief

Scotland have not reached a major tournament since 2019, missing the last two European Championships and the 2023 Women’s World Cup. That makes this play-off more than a routine fixture; it is a chance to reset expectations and move closer to a long-awaited return on the biggest stage.

“I’m going to be that glass-half-full optimist that says, ‘that is where we want to be, that is where we want to get to’,” Andreatta said. It is a line that fits Scotland’s current mood: ambitious, grounded and aware that the margin for error is now razor-thin.

With Kerr’s adaptability, Thomas’s finishing threat and a squad built for multiple roles, Scotland head into the Czech Republic tie with real belief. The next step is simple to say, much harder to secure: keep the World Cup dream alive.