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Tyler Fletcher Joins Scotland's World Cup Squad After Billy Gilmour's Injury Setback
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- Tyler Fletcher Joins Scotland's World Cup Squad After Billy Gilmour's Injury Setback
Scotland got the result they wanted on Saturday, beating Curacao 4-1 at Hampden Park in Glasgow. But the win came with a cost.
Midfielder Billy Gilmour was forced off in the first half through injury and is now set to leave the squad, leaving Steve Clarke short in the middle of the park just 11 days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America.
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It was a setback nobody wanted at this stage of preparations. Scotland fell behind early before turning it around convincingly, with Lawrence Shankland scoring twice and Findlay Curtis grabbing his first international goal.
The red card for Jürgen Locadia also changed the shape of the game as it went on. But with Gilmour heading home, Clarke needed to act fast, and he did.
Tyler Fletcher Gets His World Cup Call
Scotland announced that the Manchester United midfielder Tyler Fletcher has been added to the World Cup squad, giving the club another player heading to the World Cup.
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Fletcher was part of Scotland's pre-tournament training camp originally but missed the cut when Clarke named his final 26-man roster. Gilmour's injury changed all that.
"Following the news of Billy Gilmour's injury, we can confirm that 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher has been added to our @FIFAWorldCup squad after making his debut against Curaçao yesterday. Welcome aboard, Tyler." The team announced.
The 19-year-old is the son of former Scotland captain Darren Fletcher and has actually put in more minutes at international level than at club level this season.
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He made two substitute appearances for United, including his senior debut in February when manager Michael Carrick brought him on in stoppage time during a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur . He got another run out in the final game of the season, playing 16 minutes of United's 3-0 win at Brighton .
Clarke had already shown faith in Fletcher by including him in the training squad last week, and that call looks good right now. In his international debut yesterday, Fletcher played 45 minutes, completed 33 of 38 passes, and won the ball back three times. For a teenager stepping into a World Cup squad, that's a solid first impression.
Related: Pep Guardiola Reportedly Favors One Specific International Job for Future
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Soccer section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
