I HAD EMERGENCY HEART TREATMENT BEFORE WORLD CUP OPENER — MCTOMINAY

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay has revealed that he underwent emergency heart treatment just two days before his country's opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Haiti.

The Napoli star disclosed that he was taken to hospital in the United States after experiencing an irregular heartbeat shortly before Scotland's 1-0 victory over Haiti in June.

McTominay, 29, said he had to undergo a procedure in which his heart was given an electric shock to restore its normal rhythm. He was placed under anaesthetic during the treatment and returned to action in time to feature in the opening match.

At the time, Scotland's camp had attributed his absence from training to a stomach complaint.

Speaking about the experience, the former Manchester United midfielder admitted that being in a hospital bed shortly before such an important fixture was far from ideal, especially after months of preparation for the tournament.

Although he played in all three of Scotland's group matches, the team failed to progress to the knockout stage after defeats to Morocco and Brazil.

McTominay described the World Cup campaign as one of the most disappointing periods of his career, while insisting that his health situation was not an excuse for the team's performance.

The heart condition later resurfaced, prompting him to undergo a corrective cardiac ablation procedure in Manchester in September. The operation was aimed at treating a mild, benign heart rhythm disorder.

He has since returned to action for Napoli and says he is feeling much better.

The midfielder is also back in Scotland's squad ahead of their upcoming Nations League matches against North Macedonia and Switzerland.