Scott McTominay has revealed that he needed hospital treatment for an irregular heartbeat just two days before Scotland’s opening game at the 2026 World Cup. The midfielder made the disclosure on Tuesday as he returned to the national squad following a separate procedure in September.
Speaking to reporters at Hampden Park, the Napoli player said he was sedated for treatment before Scotland’s 1-0 win over Haiti in June. He was cleared to play and went on to appear in all three of Scotland’s group matches.
“I had to go and get the shock on my heart,” McTominay said, according to BBC Sport’s report from the media appearance. “It was two days before the Haiti game.”
June treatment and September procedure were separate
The timing matters: McTominay was describing treatment before the World Cup, not a new medical emergency during this international break. He later underwent a cardiac ablation procedure in Manchester in September after the irregular heartbeat continued to affect him.
Sky Sports reported that the procedure treated a mild, benign arrhythmia. McTominay missed Scotland’s first four Nations League matches while recovering, but has since returned to domestic and Champions League football with Napoli.
His comments also put Scotland’s difficult World Cup campaign in a different light. He said he had been fully fit to play, while acknowledging that being in hospital so close to the opening match was far from ideal. He did not present the treatment as an excuse for the team’s group-stage exit.
Back with Scotland for Nations League games
McTominay said he was feeling “much, much better” and described the September procedure as straightforward and successful. He praised the medical staff involved and said he was happy to be playing again.
His return gives Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli the midfielder as an option for the first time. Scotland host North Macedonia on Friday, November 13, before travelling to Switzerland on Monday, November 16. Being back in the squad does not, by itself, confirm a starting place in either match.
Archive photo: Scott McTominay during Scotland v Bolivia on June 6, 2026. Bryan Berlin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, resized and compressed to WebP; adapted image under the same licence. Not Tuesday’s media appearance.
