Scott McTominay Fit for Scotland's World Cup Opener After Stomach Bug Scott McTominay is set to start Scotland’s 2026 World Cup opener against Haiti on Saturday, despite having recently battled a stomach bug. The Napoli midfielder traveled separately from the team’s base in Charlotte to Boston as a precaution, but head coach Steve Clarke confirmed McTominay is “perfect” and “ready to go.” However, central defender Scott McKenna will miss the match due to a calf injury, with Clarke stating the 28-year-old will likely train on Monday before returning to full fitness. The World Cup marks a historic milestone for Scotland, which has not participated in the tournament since 1998. Fans from across the country have traveled to the United States for the opener, which will take place in Foxborough, 25 miles outside Boston. Clarke emphasized the importance of respecting Haiti, a team that has improved its squad since qualifying for the tournament. “We’ve watched Haiti very closely and respect their abilities on the pitch,” he said. “They have very dynamic players, especially in attack, so we have to be careful.” Clarke also highlighted the challenges Scotland faces, noting the team’s previous struggles in major tournaments. Under his leadership, Scotland failed to advance beyond the group stage at both the delayed Euro 2020 and Euro 2024. In 2021, they lost their opening match to Czechia 2-0, and in 2024, they suffered a 5-1 defeat to Germany. Reflecting on those matches, Clarke admitted the Germany game was a “disaster” but noted the Czechia loss had moments of promise. “We were on top of that game at one point,” he said. The 62-year-old coach acknowledged the difficulty of selecting a squad for the World Cup, stating he would have to leave “three or four players out” who contributed significantly to reaching the tournament.#napoli #scotland #haiti #scott_mctominay #steve_clarke
