Scotland’s Women’s National Team has been dealt a crushing setback just days before their 2027 World Cup qualification campaign kicks off. Midfield stars Kirsty Maclean and Chelsea Cornet have both been ruled out of the opening double-header against Luxembourg due to injury.
The news breaks at the worst possible moment for new head coach Melissa Andreatta, who took charge in December 2025 with big ambitions to lead Scotland to their second-ever World Cup finals.
Who Are the Missing Players and Why It Hurts So Much
Kirsty Maclean, the 20-year-old Liverpool dynamo, has already earned 14 caps and started every game during the recent Nations League promotion push. She missed Liverpool’s FA Cup win over Everton on Sunday with a hamstring problem that scans confirmed will keep her sidelined for at least three weeks.
Her absence robs Scotland of pace, pressing, and that rare ability to carry the ball through midfield lines.
Chelsea Cornet, 27, has been in sparkling form for Birmingham City this season. The attacking midfielder was an unused substitute in Birmingham’s 6-0 thrashing of Chatham Town last weekend after feeling tightness in training. Medical staff later confirmed she will miss up to four weeks with a grade two calf strain.
Cornet made her Scotland debut in 2022 and has three caps, but many fans believed this was the campaign where she would finally nail down a regular spot.
Replacements Step Up: Eddie and Rodgers Get the Call
Rangers defender Leah Eddie, 25, earns her first call-up in 18 months after impressive domestic form. The powerful centre-back has four caps and brings physical presence that could prove vital against physical opponents later in the group.
Nottingham Forest’s Amy Rodgers, also 25, returns with 12 caps already to her name. Rodgers spent time on loan at London City Lionesses last season and has started the new campaign strongly in the Championship.
“Andreatta now has decisions to make in midfield,” says former Scotland international Joanne Love. “Rodgers can play the holding role, but we lose creativity without Maclean and Cornet.”
Luxembourg Double-Header: Huge Opportunity Despite the Blows
Scotland face Luxembourg away on Tuesday 3 March, then host them at Hampden four days later. The minnows sit 108th in the FIFA rankings, exactly 80 places below Scotland.
These are the first ever meetings between the nations.
Victory in both games would give Scotland maximum points before tougher tests against Belgium and Israel in Group H.
Current European qualification rules remain complex. The top two teams in each League A group qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. League B winners earn play-off places, while others fight through additional rounds.
Scotland dropped to League B after finishing bottom of their League A group in the last cycle.
Bigger Picture: A New Era Begins Under Andreatta
Melissa Andreatta arrived with a reputation for attacking football from her time with Italy’s youth teams and Servette in Switzerland. She immediately spoke of “building something beautiful” with Scotland.
Yet injuries have hit hard even before her first competitive match.
This isn’t new for Scottish football fans. The men’s team lost key players before crucial qualifiers. The women’s team suffered similar blows before Euro 2022.
But the depth is improving. Eddie and Rodgers represent the new generation pushing through from strong domestic performances.
Scotland’s record against lower-ranked opponents remains excellent. They put 10 past Albania, eight past Latvia, and seven past Faroe Islands in recent years.
Anything less than six points from Luxembourg would be seen as catastrophic.
Fans will gather at Hampden on 7 March hoping to see their team lay down a marker. The injuries hurt, no question. But this squad has shown resilience before.
As one supporter posted on social media after the news broke: “Gutted for Kirsty and Chelsea, but this is our chance to show we’ve got strength in depth. Come on Scotland.”
The road to Brazil 2027 starts now. Despite the setback, expectation remains sky high.
What do you think? Can Scotland still top Group H and secure a World Cup return? Drop your thoughts below and let’s get #ScotlandWomen trending again.
