Cammy Devlin opened up about the intense pressure he experienced during the 2026 World Cup while he was in the process of finalising a transfer to Rangers. The 28‑year‑old, known for his combative style in midfield, had just endured a heartbreaking end to his season with Heart of Midlothian. Hearts missed out on the Scottish Premiership crown on the final matchday after a late defeat away to Celtic, which secured the champions’ fifth consecutive title. With his club campaign concluded in disappointment, Devlin turned his attention to the international stage, joining the Australian national side for the World Cup in North America.
Australia’s tournament run was short‑lived; the Socceroos were eliminated in the round of 32 by Egypt after a penalty shoot‑out. Throughout the competition, rumours swirled about Devlin potentially re‑uniting with former Hearts manager Derek McInnes, who had taken over at Rangers, and with club captain Lawrence Shankland, also a former Hearts player now wearing the blue shirt at Ibrox. The speculation added another layer of distraction to an already hectic period for the Sydney‑born midfielder.
On 11 July, just one day after Hearts announced that Devlin would be departing Tynecastle on a free transfer, the player signed a two‑year contract with Rangers, with an option for a third year. He made his debut in a Rangers shirt during the second half of a 2‑1 pre‑season friendly win over French side St Étienne at Ibrox, earning praise from both the travelling Light Blues supporters and McInnes himself. Ahead of the final pre‑season clash against West Ham United, Devlin reflected on the whirlwind of events that had unfolded over the past few months.
"It was stressful, to be honest," he admitted. "We finished the season on a sour note, and then we were thrust straight into the World Cup – one of the most special moments of a player's career. There was barely any time to process what had happened with Hearts before we were packing our bags for Qatar." He went on to describe the personal side of the experience, noting that his family had travelled across the globe to support him. "My mum, dad and girlfriend were in America cheering me on at the World Cup.
As a kid you never imagine you’ll get the chance to play on that stage, so you try to soak up every moment," he said. "I thought it would be a good idea to go into the tournament with my contract expired, but it turned out to be far more stressful than I anticipated." Devlin explained that the combination of being in the global spotlight, dealing with the disappointment of Australia’s early exit, and juggling the uncertainty surrounding his club future created a perfect storm of anxiety.
"It was hard to enjoy the World Cup itself when there was so much noise around it – media speculation, agents calling, and my dad asking me every day what was happening," he laughed. "And then there’s the relationship I have with Derek.
We’re incredibly close; he was a huge influence on me at Hearts. Everyone knows how tough that season was for us, and he helped me grow as a player." When McInnes accepted the Rangers job, Devlin’s conversations with his former boss became more sporadic. "We spoke at the start of his tenure at Rangers, but not a lot after that. I can imagine his workload exploded once he took over a club of that size.
I tried not to dwell on it and just focus on the World Cup, but when the Rangers offer came, it felt too good to turn down," Devlin said. He highlighted the prestige of joining a club with Rangers’ history and fanbase. "Rangers is a massive football institution.
Signing for them was a dream, but the timing made it incredibly stressful. I’m relieved that the World Cup is over and I can now settle into life at Ibrox without that extra pressure," he concluded. Rangers will kick off McInnes’s reign with a league match against Dundee United on 31 July, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The Friday night fixture, set for an 8 p.m.
kickoff, marks the start of an unprecedented opening weekend in which all six Scottish Premiership games will be shown live on the network for the first time. It will also be McInnes’s first competitive appearance as Rangers manager, following his appointment to replace Danny Röhl. Fans can view the full schedule of Rangers’ Premiership fixtures, including the date of the season’s first Old Firm encounter, on the club’s official website.
Additionally, a promotional Super 6 competition offers participants a chance to win a share of a £250,000 prize pool, with free entry available online.