Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes, who has one cap for England, is not ruling out switching his international allegiance to play for Scotland at the 2026 World Cup.
According to a report from The Football Faithful, Harvey Barnes — who has just one cap for England — has kept the possibility open of playing for Scotland at the international level.
The 27-year-old winger qualifies for Scotland through his grandparents, making him eligible under FIFA rules because his only appearance for England came in a friendly match in 2020.
The report notes that despite his brief involvement with the England senior team, Barnes remains capable of changing allegiances due to the non-competitive nature of that appearance.
Barnes addressed the possibility in a conversation with Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, saying: “It’s not something I’ve really spoken about or put thought into recently.
There’s always been talk about it and a while ago there was bits and bobs about it. But recently it’s not cropped up.”
He added: “Is it closed off? No, of course it’s not. I’ve obviously played for England and I know the eligibility side of it is still there so it’s hard to say either way but there’s been no real chats or progression in that sense.”
His comments follow Scotland’s dramatic 4–2 win over Denmark, which sealed their qualification for the 2026 World Cup — an achievement that could potentially entice Barnes to join their squad.
While no formal negotiations appear to be underway, Barnes’ openness suggests he is seriously considering the option, leaving the door ajar for a potential switch.