Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes will not switch international allegiance from England to Scotland before the upcoming World Cup, Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has confirmed. Barnes, who holds one senior cap for England from a 2020 friendly against Wales, had been the subject of ongoing speculation regarding a potential move to the Scottish national team.
The 28-year-old qualifies to represent Scotland through his maternal grandparents. Reports suggested Barnes was open to the idea, particularly after Scotland secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup. However, Clarke had previously made it clear he would not "persuade anybody to come" if players harboured doubts about their international future. Barnes has featured in 15 Premier League matches for Newcastle during the 2025-26 season. This decision firmly places his international future with England.
