Ivory Coast will face Scotland in an international friendly as part of preparation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup tournament, to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The much-anticipated friendly between the West African football heavyweights and the European outfit has been scheduled to take place at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on March 31, 2026.
It will be the first meeting in history between the two nations at the international level. The 2023 African champions will use the match to fine-tune their strategy ahead of the biggest soccer mundial to be held in North America.
With both nations having already secured qualification for the expanded World Cup, the friendly presents a valuable opportunity to assess squad depth, tactical setups and player combinations ahead of the global showpiece.
For the Elephants, the match forms a key part of their final preparations. Head coach Emerse Fae and his technical team will be keen to use the fixture to build momentum as they gear up for a challenging World Cup group.
Ivory Coast have been drawn in Group E alongside Germany, Ecuador and Curacao, a section that promises intense competition and little margin for error. The clash with Scotland will therefore serve as a vital test against European opposition, offering a realistic gauge of the team’s readiness ahead of the tournament.
Scotland, meanwhile, will view the friendly as an equally important rehearsal, as they look to sharpen their competitive edge and build cohesion within their squad before heading to North America.
As anticipation builds, the March showdown in Liverpool is expected to attract strong interest from fans and pundits alike, with both teams eager to make a statement in the lead-up to the world’s biggest football event.
