The final week of World Cup 2026 preparations has brought a mix of encouraging performances and painful setbacks across the 48 qualified teams. Scotland's friendly win over 10-man Curacao was overshadowed by a tournament-ending injury to Billy Gilmour, their most important midfielder. Australia showed genuine quality against Mexico but could not find a finishing touch. Cristian Volpato confirmed his switch from Italy to the Socceroos. And across the globe, coaches are making the final cuts to their 26-player squads before FIFA's June 1 deadline. Follow all World Cup build-up live on iScore.ai.
With the tournament kicking off on June 11 when Mexico host South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, these friendlies represent the last chance for players on the bubble to prove their worth and for coaches to test tactical systems against genuine opposition. The results have been mixed, the injuries have been significant, and the squad announcements are coming thick and fast.
Gilmour injury blow for Scotland
Billy Gilmour's World Cup is over before it began. The 25-year-old midfielder, widely regarded as Scotland's most technically gifted player, suffered an injury during the friendly against Curacao that will rule him out of the tournament. The news is a devastating blow to Steve Clarke's side, who are drawn in Group E alongside Haiti and face a challenging path to the knockout rounds.
Gilmour has been the metronome of Scotland's midfield since establishing himself as a regular starter. His ability to receive the ball under pressure, retain possession, and dictate the tempo of matches makes him irreplaceable in Clarke's system. Without him, Scotland lose their primary ball-progressor and the player who connects defence to attack.
The injury occurred during what was supposed to be a routine warm-up match. Scotland beat 10-man Curacao, a result that would normally be cause for cautious optimism. Instead, the post-match focus was entirely on Gilmour, who was seen leaving the pitch in clear discomfort. Medical assessments confirmed the worst. Scotland must now reshape their midfield less than two weeks before their opening match against Haiti at Gillette Stadium on June 14.
Clarke's system relies heavily on Gilmour's positioning and passing range. Without him, Scotland may need to shift to a more direct style, using the physicality of players like Scott McTominay and John McGinn to compensate for the loss of technical control in the centre. It is a significant tactical adjustment to make at the eleventh hour. For more on Scotland's World Cup squad and prospects, see our full Scotland team profile.
Man Utd teenager called up as replacement
Steve Clarke moved quickly to replace Gilmour, calling up a Manchester United teenager to fill the void in Scotland's 26-player squad. The youngster, who has been part of United's academy system and impressed in youth competitions, represents a significant step up in level but offers the technical profile that Clarke values in midfield.
The call-up is a remarkable story for a player who was not expecting to be involved in a World Cup just weeks ago. But Clarke has a track record of promoting young talent when he believes the player's profile fits the system, regardless of age or experience. The question is whether a teenager with limited first-team football can provide what Gilmour offered, even in a reduced capacity.
Scotland's midfield options now look significantly thinner. McTominay and McGinn will carry a heavier burden. The replacement will likely be used as a rotational option or impact substitute rather than a starter, but the loss of Gilmour's specific skill set cannot be fully replicated by any available player in the squad.
Australia vs Mexico: Socceroos impress
Australia's final World Cup warm-up match against Mexico provided genuine encouragement for Tony Popovic's side, even without a victory to show for it. The Socceroos showed resilience and attacking quality, taking the game to Mexico and creating several clear chances. What they lacked was a cutting edge in front of goal, a concern that Popovic will need to address before the tournament begins.
Mexico, who will host the opening match of the World Cup against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on June 11, were their usual enterprising selves. But Australia matched them for large stretches, pressing effectively and showing a tactical discipline that suggests they will not be pushovers in the group stage.
The match was also a final audition for several players on the fringe of Popovic's squad. With the June 1 deadline looming, the coach now faces difficult decisions about which players to include and which to cut. The performance against Mexico will have given him plenty to think about, both positive and negative.
Australia are drawn in Group H at the World Cup, where they will face tough opposition. The friendly against Mexico, one of the tournament's co-hosts, was specifically chosen to simulate the intensity and quality they will face in the group stage. The result suggests Australia can compete at this level, but converting performances into results remains the challenge. For more on Australia's World Cup preparations, see our Australia team profile.
Volpato switches allegiance to Australia
Cristian Volpato has confirmed his switch of international allegiance from Italy to Australia, a significant boost for the Socceroos ahead of the World Cup. The attacking midfielder, who has represented Italy at youth level, qualifies for Australia through his heritage and has decided to commit his international future to Tony Popovic's side.
Volpato brings creativity and technical quality to an Australia squad that has sometimes lacked invention in the final third. His ability to play in multiple attacking positions gives Popovic tactical flexibility, and his decision to switch suggests he sees a clear pathway to regular international football with the Socceroos.
The switch highlights an increasingly common trend in international football, where dual-nationality players weigh up their options and choose the national team that offers the best combination of playing time, tournament opportunity, and personal connection. Volpato's choice of Australia over Italy, where competition for attacking midfield places is fierce, is a pragmatic one that benefits both the player and his new national team.
Other key friendly results
The final week of World Cup preparation has seen a packed schedule of friendlies across all confederations. Here are the most significant results and their implications.
Scotland 2-0 Curacao (10 men). The win was comfortable enough, with Scotland dominating possession and creating chances throughout. But the Gilmour injury completely overshadowed the result. Curacao, reduced to 10 men, offered little resistance. The scoreline could have been more emphatic.
Australia vs Mexico. The Socceroos showed they can compete with a top side but could not convert their chances. Popovic will be pleased with the tactical discipline and the pressing intensity but concerned about the lack of a clinical finisher.
Several other friendlies took place across the globe, with teams fine-tuning their systems and testing fringe players before the June 1 squad deadline. The results have been less important than the fitness and tactical information they provide. Coaches are prioritising getting their preferred starting elevens match-sharp rather than chasing friendly results.
For teams in the earlier time zones, there is still one more week of training camp before the tournament begins. The final days will be focused on set-piece routines, defensive shape, and ensuring that the 26 players selected are physically and mentally ready for a tournament that, with 48 teams, will be longer and more demanding than any previous World Cup.
Injury watch across all squads
Gilmour is the most high-profile injury casualty of the final preparation week, but he is not the only concern. Across the 48 qualified teams, medical staff are working around the clock to get key players fit.
The condensed club season, which ran deep into May with domestic finals and the Champions League final on May 30, has left many players with minimal recovery time before the World Cup. Players involved in the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal will have less than two weeks between that match and their first World Cup fixture, a turnaround that raises genuine concerns about fatigue and injury risk.
Several high-profile players are carrying knocks from the domestic season. Coaches must decide whether to include them in the 26-player squad and hope they recover in time for the group stage, or cut them now and replace them with fully fit alternatives. FIFA rules allow squad changes after the June 1 deadline only for medical reasons verified by a FIFA doctor, meaning the decisions made this week are largely final.
The expanded 48-team format means more matches and a longer tournament, increasing the physical demands on players. Squad depth, already important in World Cups, has become even more critical. Teams with stronger benches and more versatile players will have a significant advantage as the tournament progresses. For more on squad rules and deadlines, see our guide to World Cup squad regulations.
What to expect in the final week
The next seven days will be dominated by squad announcements, final training sessions, and the logistical challenge of moving 48 teams across three host nations. Here is what to watch for.
June 1: Squad deadline. All 48 teams must submit their final 26-player squads to FIFA. Expect a flurry of announcements, surprises, and controversial omissions. The biggest questions surround players who are carrying injuries or have fallen out of favour with their national team coaches.
June 1-5: Final training camps. Teams will conduct their last intensive training sessions before transitioning to their base camps in the host nations. Tactical work, set-piece routines, and team-bonding activities will dominate.
June 6-10: Arrival in host nations. Teams will arrive at their base camps and begin acclimatisation. For teams playing at altitude in Mexico, this period is critical. For those based in the United States and Canada, adjusting to the climate and time zones will be the priority.
June 11: The tournament begins. Mexico host South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in the opening match, a fixture that will set the tone for the entire tournament. The atmosphere in Mexico City will be extraordinary, with the Azteca's capacity and the passion of the home support creating an occasion unlike any other.
The 2026 World Cup is the first with 48 teams, the first across three host nations, and the first with the expanded group-stage format. The preparation period has been intense, the friendlies have revealed both strengths and weaknesses, and the stage is set. For comprehensive World Cup coverage, including live scores, group-stage previews, and tactical analysis, visit iScore.ai. For more on the tournament format and groups, see our guide to the World Cup 2026 group structure.