Scotland confirm pre-World Cup friendlies as Japan and Curacao to visit Hampden Park
The Scots have lined up two warm-up games as the countdown to this summer’s finals continue
Scotland have confirmed they will face fellow World Cup finalists Japan and Curacao in their two home friendlies ahead of this summer's tournament in North America.
Steve Clarke's side will face Japan - who were the first nation to qualify for the tournament - on Saturday, 28 March (5pm kick-off) at Hampden Park before taking on Curacao - the smallest nation to qualify for a World Cup - on Saturday, 30 May (1pm kick-off).
That fixture against former Rangers and Netherlands boss Dick Advocaat's side will give the Tartan Army one last chance to see the team on home soil before they jet off to the USA.
It will be a first-ever head-to-head with the small Caribbean island nation, who are currently ranked 82 - two places above Haiti.
Japan, meanwhile have played Scotland on three occasions, the latest being a 2-0 win for the Samurai Blue in a Yokohama friendly in 2009, having shared two previous goalless draws - one of which came in the 2006 Kirin Cup.
It will be their first ever visit to Mount Florida with Hajime Moriyasu's side currently sitting 18th in the world, 18 places above Clarke’s men.
Steve Clarke explains home friendlies
Clarke admits he is looking forward to his squad reuniting again for the first time since sealing qualification during November's thrilling 4-2 win over Denmark.
He told the Scottish FA website: “I'm delighted to confirm our two home friendly opponents. Following our normal approach of arranging tough friendly fixtures, we were pleased to secure the visit of Japan - who are in the top 20 of FIFA's World Rankings.
“We're also looking forward to welcoming Curacao to Glasgow, which should give us a feel for the CONCACAF federation before our game against Haiti.
“It will be great to meet up with the squad for the first time since that crazy, momentous night, when they took us back to the World Cup after such a long time.
“We can spend the first day reminiscing but then it's back to the serious business of preparing for the summer.”
The Scottish FA will announce a further two AWAY warm-up matches in due course, expected to be against Ivory Coast and Peru.
Who do Scotland face in Group C?
The Scots’ World Cup opener is against Haiti on June 14 in Boston as the nation prepare to return to the men's World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Scotland then face Morocco on June 19, also at the Gillette Stadium, and end their Group C fixtures against five-time winners Brazil in Miami on June 24.
- Haiti vs Scotland - June 14, Boston, 2am (UK time)
- Scotland vs Morocco - June 19, Boston, 11pm (UK time)
- Scotland vs Brazil - June 24, Miami, 11pm (UK time)