Napoli midfielder and Scotland international Scott McTominay has revealed in a press conference that he underwent a heart procedure just two days before Scotland’s first match at the 2026 World Cup, against Haiti. According to him, the procedure was meant to give his heart an electric shock to correct its rhythm.
It was carried out under general anaesthesia, he added. McTominay said the heart intervention came at a time when he was in good shape. “I had to undergo a procedure to give my heart an electric shock,” the 29-year-old stated, adding that this happened two days before the clash with Haiti.
He described the contrast between the preparation and what happened: “You have prepared excellently, you are in wonderful shape, and suddenly something like this happens.” Asked about his state of mind in those moments, the footballer said that a person in such a situation asks himself: “How could this happen to me?”
Nevertheless, McTominay received medical clearance to play against Haiti, a match Scotland won 3–0. He then also featured in the matches against Morocco and Brazil, which ended in defeats. “Sometimes things don’t go the way you would like,” he continued.
The midfielder acknowledged that being in a hospital bed two days before the first World Cup match, waiting for anaesthesia, is not an ideal situation at all. He clarified that earlier in the season he had undergone another heart procedure to correct a mild and benign arrhythmia.
After receiving medical clearance to compete, he returned to playing regularly for Napoli. According to him, the situation may seem much more serious to the media or to family and friends who get in touch after hearing about a heart problem. In reality, he stressed, it was a relatively simple procedure.
“Now I am fine,” McTominay concluded. “I feel much, much better than before.” He emphasised that he believes the intervention had to be done, since moments like this can happen in someone’s career.
The Scot expressed his happiness at being back playing football, which he called the most important thing in his life. “For me, what matters most is always coming back stronger,” he stated.