Scotland’s men’s national football team took another significant step on their road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a friendly clash against Ivory Coast at Everton’s newly-built Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. With both teams already qualified for this summer’s tournament in North America, the fixture marked a historic first-ever senior encounter between the two nations and served as a crucial test for Steve Clarke’s side as they gear up for a daunting Group C campaign.
The match, kicking off at 7:30pm BST on March 31, 2026, was more than just a friendly—it was a pivotal audition for players hoping to secure a coveted spot in Clarke’s provisional World Cup squad. The Scotland manager, speaking ahead of the contest, revealed that FIFA requires the submission of a provisional squad of up to 55 players by May 11, from which the final 26-man roster will be selected. “It’s a FIFA requirement that you put in a squad, I think it’s about 55 names,” Clarke explained. “And I’m definitely number 55... But I’ll find 55, for sure. Your 26 will come from that group and there can be late additions too. But hopefully I don’t forget anybody.”
Clarke’s squad selection process is shrouded in a bit of mystery. While clubs are contacted for a ‘fitness for duty’ check on an extended pool of players—usually around 40—most names on the provisional list are kept confidential. Players may only discover their selection on the day of the official announcement, or when the Scottish FA posts the squad on social media. Despite the looming heartbreak for those who miss the final cut, Clarke intends to keep a stand-by list: “I’ll be telling them they have to be ready. Right up until the first game you can change players so we will have a few players on stand-in.”
Tuesday’s friendly against Ivory Coast was also significant for another reason—it was the first senior men’s international match at Everton’s impressive new home since its inauguration in August 2025. The occasion formed part of the ‘Road to 26’ international series, a collection of unique-venue friendlies designed to generate global excitement ahead of the World Cup in North America. Clarke specifically requested a match against strong African opposition to help his team prepare for their group stage meeting with Morocco.
The Scotland starting XI for the encounter saw nine changes from the side that narrowly lost 1-0 to Japan just three days prior. Only Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay retained their places in the lineup, underlining Clarke’s commitment to squad rotation and giving fringe players a last chance to impress. The team sheet read: Kelly, Souttar, Hyam, Tierney, McCrorie, Robertson, Gilmour, Christie, McTominay, Hirst, and Adams. The substitutes’ bench boasted familiar faces such as Gunn, Bain, Patterson, McGinn, Dykes, Hendry, Miller, Ferguson, Conway, Ralston, McLean, Irving, Curtis, and McKenna.
Fans were treated to comprehensive coverage, with the match broadcast live on BBC Two, BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website. For those tuning in stateside, FOX Sports and FuboTV typically carried such international friendlies, while BBC Radio Scotland provided live audio commentary for listeners on the go.
But the action on the pitch was only part of the story. Off the field, Scotland’s preparations for their first World Cup appearance since 1998 have been meticulous. After scouring much of the U.S. East Coast, Scotland’s coaching staff, led by Clarke and assistant Steven Naismith, selected Charlotte FC’s training complex in North Carolina as their base camp. The decision, aided by Clarke’s connections with Charlotte’s coaching staff—Dean Smith as head coach, Gary Dicker as assistant, and Tommy Wilson as technical director—was driven by a need for top-class facilities and logistical convenience.
“It’s a travelling World Cup,” Naismith noted. “We’ve got two games in Boston, one in Miami, but there’s only a limited amount of facilities around Boston. That was probably the biggest challenge. We’ve done a lot of work seeing a lot of training bases—but we’re delighted with Charlotte.”
The Charlotte FC facility boasts four grass pitches, a full-size astro pitch, a nine-a-side astro, multiple buildings with meeting rooms, an auditorium, gyms, and a canteen. It has previously hosted international powerhouses like Real Madrid and Inter Milan, a testament to its world-class status. “Real Madrid have been, Inter Milan were here for the Club World Cup, I think we’ve had four or five ‘big’ clubs come here for pre-season, so it wasn’t a surprise we had a lot of national teams come and look here,” Dicker told the BBC. “But we have a decent Scottish connection and I think that helps a lot. There’s a comfort there.”
With Scotland’s group stage matches scheduled for Boston (against Haiti and Morocco) and Miami (against Brazil), Charlotte’s location is ideal—both cities are about a two-hour flight away, and the team is just 20 minutes from a private airport. The hot and humid conditions in North Carolina mirror those expected in Miami, giving players a valuable acclimatization edge. “It’s really hot and humid in the summer, which I think will really help them when they are going to Miami because it’s going to be so, so hot down there,” Dicker added.
Player welfare off the pitch hasn’t been overlooked either. With families set to accompany many squad members, Charlotte’s vibrant yet manageable city life, proximity to mountains and sea, and easy access to attractions like Disneyland (just a 90-minute flight away) make it an appealing home base. “You’re away for so long, I’m sure most of them are going to come with their families,” Dicker explained. “But there’s loads of stuff to do here with the kids. It’s a fast-growing city, which isn’t too busy, while you’re close to the mountains and sea too.”
Clarke and his staff are keen to maintain a relaxed and open atmosphere, encouraging players to stick to their usual routines and enjoy some freedom during the extended tournament period. “It was important that we were not isolated in a training facility that’s not in a city, and in Charlotte, there’s a lot for the players to do. We’ll be encouraging them and I’m sure we’ll try and get them to follow the routine they have back at home,” Naismith commented.
As the final whistle sounded in Liverpool, attention quickly turned to the World Cup’s looming deadlines and opportunities. Scotland will host Curacao at Hampden Park on May 30 before heading across the Atlantic, where they’ll face Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil in Group C. The competition for places remains fierce, and every minute on the pitch counts as Clarke and his coaching team weigh up their options for the final squad announcement.
With a historic return to the World Cup now just months away, Scotland’s preparations—on and off the field—are gathering momentum. The excitement is palpable, the stakes are sky-high, and for the Tartan Army, the journey is only just beginning.