Scotland have responded to criticism from Norway manager Stale Solbakken, insisting they followed the “right and consistent” procedure when cancelling a planned behind-closed-doors friendly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The two nations, both based in North Carolina during their World Cup preparations, had arranged a private training match for Monday.
However, the fixture was called off after Scotland reported concerns over player fitness and injuries within the squad.
Norway boss Solbakken publicly criticised the late cancellation, branding Scotland’s handling of the situation as “unprofessional” and expressing disappointment that communication came through team management rather than directly from head coach Steve Clarke.
In response, the Scottish FA clarified that all arrangements surrounding the training game had been conducted through team managers, not the respective head coaches.
“The behind-closed-doors training game was organised and arranged between the respective team managers – not the head coaches – and this was the same process we followed when we regrettably had to cancel on Saturday,” said a Scottish FA spokesperson.
“We have had some injuries during our previous friendlies and when it became apparent that a training game would bring greater risk than potential preparatory reward, we alerted the Norway team manager as soon as possible.
“We believe this was the right and consistent process. The game was also due to be behind closed doors and not announced publicly – so we were surprised when news of the game broke via Norwegian media.”
Scotland’s coaching staff opted to prioritise player welfare as they continue preparations for their first World Cup appearance since 1998.
With several players carrying knocks from recent warm-up fixtures, the decision was made to avoid unnecessary risks ahead of the tournament opener.
The cancellation has sparked debate between the two camps, but Scotland maintain the move was driven solely by medical and performance considerations rather than a lack of professionalism.
Despite the disagreement, both Scotland and Norway remain focused on their World Cup campaigns in the United States.
Steve Clarke’s side are entering the tournament with growing optimism and will now continue preparations without the additional training fixture, while Norway adjust their plans ahead of their own group-stage challenge.
For Scotland, protecting squad fitness remains the priority as they look to make an impact on football’s biggest stage.
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