SCOTLAND are set to take on the Ivory Coast on Tuesday as part of their final preparations for the World Cup this summer, but the game will be held in Liverpool despite being a “home” fixture.
Steve Clarke's side will be looking to put their defeat to Japan at the weekend at Hampden in Glasgow behind them as they take on the African nation at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
With Ivory Coast also heading to the United States this summer for the World Cup, the fixture has raised questions as to why both nations have ended up playing a warm-up game outside their homeland.
In January, Scotland announced two friendlies at Hampden: Saturday's meeting with Japan, which ended in a disappointing 1-0 loss for Clarke’s side, and against Curacao on May 30.
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At the time, Clarke said: “We’re pleased to confirm Cote d’Ivoire as our second opponents for the March international window, following on from Japan’s visit to Glasgow.
“We wanted to face African opposition before we play Morocco in the summer, and I’m sure Cote d’Ivoire will give us a really stern test.
“It will also be good to play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. The supporters will enjoy the opportunity to visit the new stadium.”
Ivory Coast is from the same confederation as Morocco, who are in Scotland’s group for the World Cup, and were seen as an ideal team for Clarke’s preparation.
The match will be the first-ever international football fixture at Everton’s new stadium but at 217 miles, just short of a four-hour drive away from Hampden, the game will be an away game for the Tartan Army.
Why are Scotland playing Ivory Coast at Hill Dickinson Stadium?
The match is part of the “Road to 26”, a series of international exhibitions held in the US leading into the 2026 Fifa World Cup, which are co-promoted by Pitch International, Unified Events, Florida Citrus Sports and Lions Media.
The series was initially billed as “bringing elite national teams to major American venues throughout 2026” and included matches like France and Brazil in Foxborough and Croatia against Colombia in Orlando.
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However, it has been extended to include Scotland against the Ivory Coast in England.
Ivory Coast have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times and will return to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years after an impressive unbeaten qualifying campaign.
Scotland also managed to secure their place in dramatic fashion, ending a 28-year wait for a World Cup finals appearance with a decisive victory over Denmark.
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