The Tartan Army is preparing for some serious sleep deprivation next summer as Scotland faces a series of late-night kick-off times during the World Cup. Following the group stage draw, Steve Clarke’s squad finds themselves in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. Matches are confirmed to be held in Boston and Miami, prompting fans to begin making travel arrangements and secure tickets.
Scotland’s schedule kicks off against Haiti at Boston’s Gillette Stadium on June 14, with a UK kick-off time of 2 am. Their second match sees them face Morocco at the same venue on June 19, with an 11 pm UK time kick-off (6 pm local time). The final group stage match is a highly anticipated clash against Brazil in Miami, also kicking off at 11 pm UK time.
While thousands of supporters are expected to travel to America to support the national team, many fans back home will be facing the challenge of staying up late into the night to watch the games. This contrasts with the experience of England supporters, whose team, under Thomas Tuchel, has been assigned more UK-friendly kick-off times of 9 pm and 10 pm for their three group matches.
The Gillette Stadium in Boston is the home of the New England Patriots NFL team, while Hard Rock Stadium is home to the Miami Dolphins. Scotland narrowly missed the opportunity to play against Brazil in the air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
England will begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in the comfort of the air-conditioned AT&T Stadium in Dallas. This match, a rematch of their 2018 semi-final, will kick off at 9 pm UK time on June 17 (3 pm local time in Texas) at the home of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team. Their second match, against Ghana on June 23, will be a 4 pm kick-off in Boston (9 pm in the UK), while their final group game against Panama at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is scheduled for a 5 pm local time kick-off (10 pm in the UK) on June 27. The World Cup final will be a 3 pm kick-off at the MetLife Stadium (8 pm in the UK) on July 19.
Following the draw, Scotland manager Steve Clarke indicated his intention to remain in the United States to scout potential training bases for his squad.
“I’ll probably stay out here for another six or seven days to look at one or two hotels and training camps and maybe somewhere we can base ourselves for the tournament,” he stated. “So there’s quite a bit of work to be done before Christmas. After Christmas we’ll be tidying up friendlies and preparations into next year. There’s lots to do and lots to look forward to.”
Other Nations’ Schedules:
Republic of Ireland: The Republic of Ireland already knows the venues for their matches, contingent on their qualification through the play-offs. Drawn into Group A against co-hosts Mexico, their potential kick-off times are 3 am, 5 pm, and 7 pm.
Wales and Northern Ireland: Wales and Northern Ireland are among the four play-off teams vying for a spot in Group B, alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar. Their matches, should they qualify, are scheduled to kick off at 8 pm BST.
Key Talking Points:
The Impact of Late Kick-Offs: The late kick-off times for Scotland’s matches have raised concerns about the impact on fans, particularly children, who may struggle to stay awake to watch the games.
Training Camp Considerations: Steve Clarke’s decision to stay in the United States to evaluate training facilities highlights the importance of acclimatizing the squad to the conditions and time zones.
Group C Challenges: Facing Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti presents a significant challenge for Scotland, requiring them to be at their best to progress to the knockout stages.
The upcoming World Cup promises to be a thrilling experience for Scotland fans, albeit one that may require a considerable amount of caffeine. The team’s performance in Group C will be closely watched, and the late-night kick-off times will undoubtedly add to the drama and excitement of the tournament.
