Scotland Cancel Secret Warm-Up Match Ahead of World Cup Opener

Scotland’s national football team has abruptly canceled a behind-closed-doors friendly against Norway due to growing injury anxieties, sparking a fierce row just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off.

The secret match, originally scheduled for Monday, June 8, was intended to give both squads a final tactical runout. However, Scotland manager Steve Clarke opted to pull the plug to protect his squad. The Scots are already reeling from the loss of star midfielder Billy Gilmour, who suffered a tournament-ending knee injury during a warm-up match against Curaçao on May 30. Despite a subsequent 4-0 victory over Bolivia, minor knocks to several other players prompted Clarke to take zero risks.

The late cancellation infuriated Norway manager Ståle Solbakken, who publicly slammed Scotland’s actions as "unprofessional." Solbakken expressed frustration that Clarke did not call him personally, leaving team managers to relay the cancellation. The Scottish FA quickly responded, clarifying that the fixture had been arranged directly by administrative staff rather than the managers, while expressing regret over the forced withdrawal.

Scotland is set to begin their World Cup campaign in Group C against Haiti on June 14.