The Manchester United kid has been drafted into the squad by Steve Clarke after Billy Gilmour's World Cup dreams were ended through injury
11:24, 01 Jun 2026
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Theo Walcott, Ronaldo Nazario, Norman Whiteside and Samuel Eto'o
Scotland have been rocked by Billy Gilmour's serious knee injury that has ruled him out of this summer's World Cup.
But in every moment of adversity comes an opportunity - with Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher handed a shock seat on the plane to the States.
The 19-year-old - who is the son of former Dark Blues captain Darren Fletcher - was given his senior debut by Steve Clarke in Saturday's 4-1 hammering of Curacao, having previously represented both Scotland and England - the latter of whom his twin brother Jack represents - at youth level.
Even with Gilmour's cruel absence, national team boss Clarke still boasts a wealth of top stars in his midfield ranks, including talismen John McGinn and Scott McTominay as well as trusted lieutenants Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie.
Some fans were surprised to see Fletcher given the nod over Udinese's Lennon Miller, who found his feet in the second half of the season following his big switch from Motherwell.
It remains to be seen whether Fletcher will be given any action when Scotland make their return to the finals with Group C clashes against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil later this month but one thing that is for sure is that's he's not the first bolt from the blue to get the call-up for the planet's most prestigious tournament.
Record Sport takes a look at eight other players down the years who were surprise inclusions for the World Cup - and how it transpired for them.
Theo Walcott (England, 2006 World Cup)
English media were sent into a frenzy when the late Sven Goran Eriksson handed 16-year-old Theo Walcott a place in the Three Lions squad for the World Cup in Germany 20 years ago.
The teenage prodigy had joined Arsenal in a £5million deal from Southampton four months earlier but went to the finals having yet to make his senior debut for the Gunners.
Walcott did not play a single minute as England were knocked out by Portugal on penalties in the quarter finals and although he later represented his country at Euro 2012, never got a taste of the World Cup. The speedster was a shock omission from the 2010 and 2014 tournaments, the former of which caught the great Lionel Messi off guard.
Garang Kuol (Australia, 2022 World Cup)
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Garang Kuol has a shot saved by Argentina's Emiliano Martinez at the 2022 World Cup(Image: Getty Images)
Australian forward Garang Kuol is a name known to Hearts fans, having spent a short time on loan at the Tynecastle club in the second half of the 2022/23 season.
And his arrival came just weeks after he had became the Socceroos youngest ever player at the World Cup at the age of 18. Kuol played the last 16 minutes of the 4-1 defeat to France and also made a cameo in the 2-1 loss to Argentina in the knockout phase.
The youngster looked set for a bright future when he landed a move to Newcastle shortly before the tournament but following his loan spell in Edinburgh has seen that potential fade. Kuol now turns out for Sparta Prague and won the most recent of his five senior Australia caps three years ago.
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, 1998 World Cup)
Samuel Eto'o went onto have a sensational career with Barcelona and Inter Milan, counting two Champions League winner's medals among his lengthy list of honours.
But his inclusion in the Cameroon squad for the 1998 World Cup in France was seen as a major surprise. The then 17-year-old was on Real Madrid's books and had just finished a season-long loan with second tier Spanish side Leganes, managing just four goals in 30 matches.
Eto'o appearance at the age of 17 years and 99 days in the group stage against Ialy is only bettered by one man when it comes to the youngest ever player at the finals (we'll get to that soon). The four-time African Player of the Year was Cameroon's lone goalscorer at the World Cup in South Korea and Japan four years later and was also on target at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Youssoufa Moukoko
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Youssoufa Moukoko played for Germany in the World Cup four years ago(Image: TM/Imago)
Youssoufa Moukoko had enjoyed a lightning start in front of goal for Borussia Dortmund in the first part of the 2021/22 season but Hansi Flick's decision to call him up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was still a bit of a bombshell.
The 2014 winners' were short on attacking options due to injuries to Timo Werner and Lukas Nmecha, handing the teen forward the chance to join up with Die Mannschaft. After making his debut in a pre-tournament friendly, Moukoko became Germany's youngest ever player at the finals when he came on against Japan in the group stage at the age of 18 years and three days.
Unfortunately, Moukoko has not been able to add to his two senior caps and now plays his football with FC Copenhagen in Denmark.
Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland, 1982 World Cup)
Winger Norman Whiteside had made just two first team appearances for Manchester United when he got the call to go to the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
And 42 years on, he still holds the record for the youngest ever player to grace the tournament. Having not represented his country at senior level, Whiteside debuted against Yugoslavia at the age of 17 years and 41 days, beating the previous record set by Brazilian icon Pele at the 1958 World Cup.
Whiteside went onto win two FA Cups at Old Trafford and also featured for his nation at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Ronaldo Nazario (Brazil, 1994 World Cup)
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Ronaldo Nazario at the 1994 World Cup(Image: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)
The name of Ronaldo Nazario will forever be synonymous with the World Cup, having led Brazil to the final of the 1998 World Cup with his dazzling displays before going one better four years later.
But the two-time Ballon D'Or winner was a surprise inclusion in the Selecao squad that won the 1994 tournament in the USA. Aged 17, he had banged in goals for fun with hometown club Cruzerio in the lead up to the finals, but joined a Brazil side that already had legendary forwards Romaro and Bebeto leading the line.
Ronaldo was an unused sub for every one of Brazil's seven games at the tournament and would have to wait another four years to strut his stuff at the World Cup, where he won the player of the tournament despite his country losing in the final to hosts France.
After nearly two years out with injury, the Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid superstar returned to fitness just in time for the 2002 World Cup, scooping up the Golden Boot with eight goals - including two in the final against Germany - to hand Brazil their fifth and most recent world title.
Femi Opabunmi (Nigeria, 2002 World Cup)
It was at that same World Cup 24 years ago that rookie Nigerian Femi Opabunmi - who has since disappeared off the map - became the third youngest ever player to appear at the finals, a position he still holds today.
The winger had lit up the U17 World Championship a year earlier and got his chance on the big stage when he came off the bench in the group stage loss to England.
However, Opabunmi would only represent Nigeria on six occasions in total and was forced to retire at the age of just 21 in 2006 after contracting glaucoma, a disease that has since left him completely blind in his right eye.
Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon, 2010 World Cup)
Young striker Vincent Aboubakar was the only player based in Cameroon to be chosen in their squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
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He earned his shot at the big time after catching the eye at Coton Sport and went onto appear in two of Cameroon's group games art the tournament was part of their squad at the next two World Cups in 2014 and 2022.
Now 35, Aboubakar is currently without a club but has enjoyed a successful career with the likes of Porto, Besiktas and Al Nassr and has racked up 45 goals in 17 caps for his country.