Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020.
Australian midfielder Cameron Devlin is using his World Cup 2026 opportunity to move beyond the disappointment of Hearts' dramatic Scottish Premiership title loss. After Hearts fell to Celtic on the final day of the season in Scotland, Devlin experienced one of the toughest moments of his club career. Now, with Australia preparing for the FIFA World Cup, the 28-year-old is focused on helping the Socceroos and putting recent frustrations behind him.
Devlin Reflects on Painful End to Hearts' Season
Hearts entered the final round with title hopes still alive, but defeat to Celtic ended those dreams. The situation worsened when celebrating supporters flooded the pitch after the final whistle, creating chaotic scenes that left many Hearts players frustrated.
“It was horrible, to be honest,” Devlin said.
“I didn’t envision the last game of the season kind of going the way it did in terms of the result and with the scenes you all would have seen.
“That’s not what football is about. Obviously they won the game and they were the champions.
“But just the way it all happened, the last week with some of the decisions and stuff - it puts a bit of a sour taste on the ending to what was such a good season for such a special club.”
The atmosphere shifted dramatically after the match. While Celtic celebrated securing the championship, Hearts players were left processing a painful defeat. Devlin admitted the scenes following the game remain difficult to forget.
“It’s just frustrating the way it finished, with all of the fans running on the field. None of the players got hurt, but it wasn’t nice and it never is,” he said.
“But at the end of the day, we didn’t quite get it over the line, which is something that will take a while.
“But I’m quite fortunate that I get to come in here and a World Cup’s a good thing to forget about things back at club.”
Socceroos Opportunity Arrives at the Right Time
The World Cup has provided Devlin with a fresh challenge and a chance to reset mentally. He returned to international action during Australia's 1-1 draw with Switzerland, earning his first Socceroos minutes in nearly two years and his first appearance under coach Tony Popovic.
Coming off the bench, Devlin knew every moment mattered.
“I had to remind myself I had to go out there and really stake my claim,” Devlin said.
“I had 10 minutes to do the best I could to put my best foot forward like I always try and do.”
Observers could see the intensity he brought after entering the match. Australia had spent long periods defending against a confident Swiss side, and Devlin's energy helped maintain momentum as the Socceroos pushed for a result.
Club Future Remains Uncertain
While Devlin's immediate attention is on the World Cup, questions remain about where he will play next season. The midfielder is currently out of contract at Hearts despite becoming a fan favourite during his time in Edinburgh.
The uncertainty surrounding his future could easily become a distraction, but Devlin insists his focus remains on representing Australia on football's biggest stage.
“It’s hard because obviously I know I’ve got a massive decision to make,” Devlin said.
“This (World Cup) is the pinnacle for any sportsman. So to be focusing on someone else at the moment is probably not the right thing to do.
“Obviously, it’s hard because my future, I’m not sure what’s happening at the moment.
“My coach at Hearts (Derek McInnes) - me and him have such a great relationship and we’re speaking regularly at the moment, which is really good, and Hearts is such an amazing place. I feel so at home there.
“So it’s something that I actually don’t know at the moment. And like I said, I’ve got a World Cup to focus on. So that’s my main priority at the moment.”
World Cup Now the Main Goal
For Devlin, the disappointment of missing out on a league title remains fresh, but the chance to represent Australia at World Cup 2026 offers a new source of motivation. With the tournament underway and competition for midfield places increasing, every training session and every appearance matters.
The Hearts midfielder has made it clear that decisions about his club future can wait. Right now, his attention is fixed on helping the Socceroos make an impact on the world stage.
