Wrexham platform driving Hyam's Scotland dream

Dom Hyam feels Wrexham's remarkable rise has been pivotal to his re-introduction to the Scotland squad in the build-up to the World Cup.

Hyam had earned just one senior international cap prior to his switch from Blackburn Rovers to Wrexham last summer.

And having been a pivotal figure in Wrexham's seventh place finish in the Championship last term, Hyam says the Red Dragons are significantly bolstering the chances of players earning international call-ups at present.

"It just shows well the club have done in such a short period of my time," the centre-back told BBC Sport Wales.

"Myself and Libby (New Zealand international Liberato Cacace) are going to the World Cup, I think I'm right right in saying the last player to represent Wrexham at a World Cup was Dennis Lawrence.

"He actually coached me at Coventry a few years ago, so it's funny how these things work out.

"It obviously helps that the club are playing in a competitive league and it was there for everyone to see that we competed right until the end."

Defender Hyam, 30, earned his first senior cap in 2023 but had to wait almost three years until his next appearance for Steve Clarke's side - which came against Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in March.

Having been included in the Scots' squad for this summer's global showpiece, Hyam earned his third cap in a 4-1 friendly win over Curaçao on Saturday.

"I've said all along, I can only control what I do on the pitch at my club," explained Wrexham captain Hyam.

"I had a pretty solid season and it helps that the club have done well, we only just missed out on the play-offs.

"So it was a little bit frustrating having to wait a few years between caps, but that's just the way it is, that's football and hopefully I can get a few more."

For Hyam the aim now is to make his mark on the biggest stage of all.

Scotland begin their tournament against Haiti on 13 June before taking on Morocco six days later - with both matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

They round off the group stage with a mouth-watering contest against five-time champions Brazil at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on 24 June.

"All three games are important, but I'd like to think the first game gives us a good platform to try and get maximum points, but it won't be easy," said Hyam.

"It'll be very competitive and they're probably looking at our game as the game they need to get points as well."

Scotland will feature at a World Cup for the first time since 1998 - where they also faced Brazil and Morocco, two opponents they will come up against this month.

"There's a bit of romance in there with the history of the Brazil game," Hyam said.

"It'll be an historic game, we're all buzzing for it, but we've got a few equally as important games before that.

"We'll just try to enjoy every moment, soak it all in because I'm trying to think what 10-year-old Dom would be thinking now."

Hyam was too young to remember the Tartan Army's efforts in France almost three decades ago.

However, the central defender regularly views clips of his nation's most historic moments and says the class of 2026 are bidding to make their own history by becoming the first Scotland team to progress from their group at a World Cup.

"My first football memory was the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan," Hyam added.

"I probably was a little bit too young for 1998, but I've seen plenty of clips.

"It's there for everyone to see that it'd be a great accomplishment for Scotland to qualify out of the group."

Wrexham missed out on a place in the Championship play-offs on the final day of the 2025-26 regular season.

It was the club's first season in the second tier in 43 years and came on the back of three successive promotions.

"We had a good season, the club have done so well and got so used to winning and having success every season - so we can't let finishing seventh in the Championship be deemed as a failure," Hyam said.

"We're all disappointed, but [manager Phil Parkinson] was very realistic and proud of the efforts as well."

On the preparations for the 2026-27 season, Hyam added: "I'm sure there'll be a lot of hard work and conversations that go on about how we can better our chances next season.

"But at the end of the day, it all comes down to hard work togetherness and a few talented players along the way help.

"There's a couple more play-off positions up for grabs which will make it more interesting, but we're all very hungry to go again."

Season five of the club's highly-successful Welcome to Wrexham documentary is in the process of being rolled out.

And having watched some of the latest episodes, Hyam says he could be in for a great reception in America this summer.

"It'll be interesting, definitely. I've managed to watch a couple of episodes, being in it every day, it's interesting how they merge all of the scenes," he said.

"With the World Cup being in America, I'm sure it'll be a great occasion for everyone."