Scott McTominay reveals heart procedure days before Scotland's World Cup 2026 opener

Scott McTominay has revealed he required an operation to reset his heartbeat a couple of days before Scotland’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign began in June, and that he received shock therapy shortly before the first match yet still played in all three group games.

The Scottish Football Association explained McTominay had been suffering from a stomach bug prior to the first game against Haiti in Boston. The squad had flown from their training camp in Charlotte and McTominay was taken to hospital immediately from the airport by a police escort. He was 29 at the time and Scotland were eliminated in the group stage.

Asked about what happened, he replied: “The sickness bug? You’re not going to say I have something to do with my heart two days before the first game of the World Cup. It’s not an ideal scenario being in the hospital two days before — well, technically 36 hours before the first game of the World Cup.”

Asked about the medical response, he said: “But you have to take the cards you’re dealt on the chin. It’s part of the game. There’s nothing I could do about it and the shock went well, I was back in normal rhythm then 24 hours later you’re playing a World Cup game.”

He added: “The World Cup, it was difficult for me, to be honest. I had to go and get the shock on my heart. That was two days before the Haiti game.”

The 29-year-old had mild, benign cardiac arrhythmia and later underwent corrective surgery at the beginning of the season, missing Scotland’s first four UEFA Nations League games after that procedure. The article refers to him as a Napoli midfielder.

McTominay confirmed he played in all three group-stage matches as part of Steve Clarke’s side. He has disclosed these health concerns for the first time since returning to the Scotland squad ahead of the upcoming doubleheader against North Macedonia and Switzerland.