Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a knee injury in a warm-up match against Curacao, dealing a major setback to Steve Clarke’s side.
Scotland have been dealt a huge setback ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after midfielder Billy Gilmour was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury sustained during Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Curacao.
The 24-year-old Napoli star picked up the injury during Scotland’s final World Cup warm-up fixture and will now return to his club to begin a rehabilitation programme. The Scottish Football Association confirmed that the midfielder will play no part in the tournament.
We regret to announce that the knee injury sustained by Billy Gilmour in today’s win over Curaçao will rule him out of participation in @FIFAWorldCup.
We’re all with you, Billy 💙
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) May 30, 2026
Gilmour had been expected to play a central role for Steve Clarke’s side after featuring prominently throughout the qualification campaign. His absence leaves Scotland without one of their most influential midfielders just days before the competition begins.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke expressed his disappointment following the news, describing the timing of the injury as particularly cruel given Gilmour’s importance to the national team.
“I am devastated for Billy because he has been an integral part of our World Cup qualifying campaign,” Clarke said. “The timing of this injury is so cruel, and everyone associated with the squad feels for him.”
The Scotland boss also praised Gilmour’s character and professionalism, insisting that the midfielder remains a hugely valued member of the national team setup despite the heartbreaking setback.
Clarke expressed confidence that Gilmour still has a bright future ahead at international level. The manager believes the Napoli midfielder will have plenty of opportunities to represent Scotland at major tournaments in the years to come once he recovers from the injury.
Gimour will now be replaced by 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher,
Following the news of Billy Gilmour’s injury we can confirm that 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher has been added to our @FIFAWorldCup squad after making his debut against Curaçao yesterday.
Welcome aboard, Tyler 🛫 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/WiYnptGg5f
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) May 31, 2026
Scotland are preparing for their first World Cup appearance since 1998 and will begin their campaign against Haiti on June 13. They will then face difficult Group C encounters against Morocco and Brazil as they attempt to progress beyond the group stage without one of their key midfield stars.
