Scotland Coach: 'Ivory Coast Friendly Will Prepare Us for Morocco World Cup Clash'
12 February 2026at09:20
Scotland national team coach Steve Clarke emphasized his desire for a strong encounter against an African team as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup finals. He stressed the importance of testing his players' readiness before the anticipated group stage match against Morocco.
Steve Clarke told the "BBC" website: "We wanted to play an African team before we play Morocco in the summer, and I'm sure Ivory Coast will give us a strong test."
He added: "It will also be good to play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, and the fans will enjoy the opportunity to visit the new stadium."
The match between Scotland and Ivory Coast is scheduled to take place on March 31 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with kick-off at 19:30 GMT.
Q&A
Why is Scotland playing Ivory Coast in a friendly match?
Scotland's coach, Steve Clarke, scheduled the friendly against Ivory Coast to specifically prepare his team for their 2026 World Cup group stage match against Morocco, aiming to test their readiness against an African opponent.
When and where will the Scotland vs. Ivory Coast friendly take place?
The friendly match between Scotland and Ivory Coast is scheduled for March 31 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, with kick-off at 19:30 GMT.
