Scotland confirm final pre-World Cup friendly as stadium and TV details revealed
Scotland’s pre-World Cup plans solidified with confirmation of final test
Scotland will face Bolivia in their final friendly test before their World Cup campaign gets underway in June this summer, it has been confirmed.
The Scottish FA has announced that Steve Clarke’s side will face the South American nation at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. Their final test before the tournament gets underway, the game will take place on Saturday, 6 June. Kick-off is scheduled for 4pm local time (9pm UK time).
Having already faced Japan and the Ivory Coast last month in the first of their World Cup warm-up friendlies, Scotland will take on Curacao on May 30 at Hampden Park, before jetting off for their North American training base in Charlotte, where the squad will be put through their paces at MLS side Charlotte FC's state-of-the-art training facility and stay nearby.
The game against Curacao will be a first-ever head-to-head with the Concacaf nation, who are currently ranked 76th in the FIFA World Rankings - seven places above opponents Haiti, who Scotland will face in their Group C opener at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on June 13. While Peru and Venezuela had previously been mentioned as potential warm-up opponents for Clarke’s side, it is Bolivia who have been chosen as the squad’s final opponents before the competitive games get underway.
Managed by Oscar Villegas, Bolivia failed to make this summer’s World Cup after being beaten by Iraq in the World Cup playoffs. A 2-1 defeat saw their opponents claim the 48th and final spot in the tournament and, in turn, ended Bolivia's hopes of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1994.
"It's good to be able to confirm our final friendly, which will round off our preparations for the tournament," said Clarke. “Bolivia will provide us with a feel for South American opposition, and will no doubt give us a stern test as they recover from the disappointment of defeat in the World Cup play-offs."
BBC Scotland have confirmed they will be broadcasting the game live, with ticket information for travelling Scotland supporters to follow in due course.
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