Scotland's Gilmour injured in a friendly, missing the World Cup

Billy Gilmour's World Cup dream ended in the bitterest possible way. The SSC Napoli and Scotland midfielder was forced to withdraw just days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after sustaining an injury in a friendly against Curaçao.

Confirmation came directly from the Azzurri club: instrumental tests carried out in the hours following the match revealed a grade II sprain to his right knee, an injury that will prevent the player from taking part in Steve Clarke's national team's World Cup expedition.

Napoli, through an official statement, expressed their closeness to the player: "Billy will not take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Our deepest sympathy goes out to him and we wish him a speedy recovery."

The injury during Scotland-Curaçao

The incident that chilled the Hampden Park crowd occurred in the first half of Scotland's friendly against Curaçao, the final test before departing for the United States. Gilmour collapsed with a knee injury and, after attempting to continue, was forced to ask for a substitution. The medical staff and coach Clarke immediately expressed a negative reaction.

Making the midfielder's afternoon even more bitter was the outcome of the tests, which confirmed his withdrawal from the World Cup. This news left the Scottish club in despair, considering the pivotal role Gilmour had played during the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Clarke: “Cruel timing”

After the match, won 4-1 by Scotland, coach Steve Clarke made no secret of his disappointment. Even before the results of the tests were released, he admitted he was "100 percent worried" about his midfielder's condition.
After the suspension was confirmed, Clarke described it as a "cruel" episode for the boy, calling him one of the key players in the national team and a fundamental element in the journey that brought Scotland back to the World Cup after a twenty-eight-year absence.

A heavy loss for Scotland

Gilmour's absence poses a significant tactical problem for the British national team. The Napoli playmaker was considered a key player in the Scottish midfield thanks to his ability to dictate the tempo of the game and link the players together. In the last few hours, debate has already raged in the Scottish media regarding a possible replacement: among the most likely names are youngster Tyler Fletcher, who performed convincingly in the test against Curaçao, and Lennon Miller.

Scotland will make their World Cup debut on June 14 against Haiti, in a group that also includes Morocco and Brazil. An already challenging campaign that will now face them without one of their most technically gifted and iconic players.

Disappointment also in Naples

The news was also greeted with concern within Napoli. Gilmour, who joined the Azzurri after his time in the Premier League, was coming off a season plagued by some physical issues that had limited his consistency. The midfielder will now return to Italy to begin his rehabilitation program and plan his recovery for next season.

For the twenty-four-year-old Scot, this was one of the biggest disappointments of his career: the World Cup was destined to represent his international breakthrough, but the dream was shattered just a few days before the competition kicked off.