The 24-year-old midfielder fractured his knee in the match against Curaçao and, due to his recovery, will not be able to play
The international friendlies that World Cup-qualifying nations have been playing also have negative consequences and cause a great deal of pain for the teams. This was evident when 24-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour left the field with a broken knee 42 minutes into Scotland’s friendly match against Curaçao, which Scotland won 4-1 at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
The Napoli midfielder will have to return to his Italian club to recover, and the timing will prevent him from participating in the World Cup. It’s worth noting that Scotland is returning to the tournament after a 28-year absence, and Gilmour was a key player in the starting lineup, so coach Steve Clarke will have to find a replacement for him. He was the main partner of John McGinn and Scott McTominay in midfield.
“We regret to announce that the knee injury Billy Gilmour sustained in today’s victory over Curaçao will prevent him from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Everyone involved with the Scotland men’s national team wishes Billy a speedy recovery. He will now return to his club, SSC Napoli, to begin his rehabilitation,” wrote the Scottish Football Association (SFA).
This happened when Gilmour fell to the ground after a routine pass and walked off the field on his own, which gave everyone some hope. However, the MRI he underwent ultimately dashed the player's hopes.
“I’m devastated for Billy because he’s been a key part of our World Cup qualifying campaign. The timing of this injury is very, very cruel, and we’re all sorry to see this happen. I’m sure Billy has many important tournaments ahead of him in the future,” said Clarke, Scotland’s coach. Although, as can be seen in the photo, Gilmour—far from being heartbroken—walked off the field to applause from the stands.
He will be replaced by Tyler Fletcher, a 19-year-old midfielder who plays for Manchester United’s U-21 team and is the son of the legendary Darren Fletcher. He came on as a substitute for Gilmour during the match; with his injury, Gilmour joins Brazilians Rodrygo and Éder Militão, Spain’s Fermín López, and France’s Hugo Ekitiké as major absences from the World Cup.
Scotland will make its World Cup debut on June 13 against Haiti, then face Morocco on the 19th, and close out the tournament against Brazil on the 24th in Miami.
