Gilmour heartbroken as injury ends Scotland World Cup 2026 hopes

Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour is ruled out of Scotland's World Cup 2026 squad due to a knee injury sustained in a warm-up match.

Injury forces key player out Billy Gilmour, the Napoli midfielder, expressed deep disappointment after a knee issue cut short his World Cup 2026 journey with Scotland. The 24-year-old experienced discomfort during Saturday's 4-1 friendly win over Curacao at Hampden Park and was substituted before halftime. Though he managed to walk off the field, a post-match scan confirmed his tournament participation was impossible. Upon leaving the team hotel, Gilmour was seen using crutches with his knee secured in a brace. ## Replacement announced for squad Tyler Fletcher, a 19-year-old Manchester United player, has been called into Scotland's World Cup 2026 squad to replace Gilmour. The young midfielder steps in just days before the team's departure to the United States for their final preparations. Fletcher's inclusion keeps the squad at full strength as they aim for their first World Cup finals appearance since 1998. ## Player shares emotional message Gilmour posted a heartfelt message on Instagram addressing his situation. He wrote, "I haven't got the words to describe how I'm feeling right now. Being so close to a childhood dream of mine, to play in a World Cup, and now it has been taken away from me with an injury. It's been a tough one to get my head around. Your support and kind messages over the last few days mean the world to me and haven't gone unnoticed, so thank you so much. I'll see you all back doing what I love again soon, but until then, let's get behind the team and cheer them on. Come on Scotland!" ## Scotland's World Cup preparations continue Scotland's head coach Steve Clarke and the entire squad departed Glasgow on Sunday en route to the United States. The team is scheduled to face Bolivia in their last warm-up friendly on Saturday in New Jersey ahead of the tournament. Their Group C campaign kicks off against Haiti on Sunday, June 14, followed by matches against Morocco and Brazil.