Scotland to face England at Hampden to mark 150th anniversary of football’s first ever international

Scotland will take on England at Hampden Park in September next year to mark the 150th anniversary of football’s first ever international match.

The national stadium in Glasgow will host to fixture on Tuesday, 12 September (7.45pm kick-off) as part of the year-long calendar of events planned by the SFA to celebrate the history of Scottish football. The match is being billed as the 150th anniversary heritage match to mark the first meeting between the two sides back in 1872.

The game will be the 116th meeting between the sides, the last of which during the Euro 2020 finals resulted in a 0-0 Group D draw at Wembley on June 18 last year, the same result as in the very first encounter. The original contest is recognised by FIFA as football’s first-ever international match, when 4,000 supporters packed into the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Glasgow.

Scottish FA president Rod Petrie: “Everyone who enjoys Scottish football today – in any capacity – owes a debt of gratitude to the pioneers of international football, in whose footsteps we are fortunate to follow. I have no doubt that this occasion will capture the imagination of the supporters and that they will provide the team with their full backing throughout our calendar of fixtures next year.”

Scotland boss Steve Clarke added: “This fixture is enshrined in world football’s history – the first-ever international football match – and I will be proud to lead our team out at Hampden as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of our national game. This next chapter of the oldest rivalry in football will be a special occasion for our players and fans.

“We have an exciting Euro 2024 qualifying campaign ahead of us next year, along with promotion to UEFA Nations League Group A, and I’m sure playing England at Hampden Park will be a welcome addition to our programme of fixtures.”

England boss Gareth Southgate said: "Any meeting with Scotland is always special. I imagine though that this occasion will be even more memorable as it celebrates such a landmark moment. Of course, ourselves and Scotland are the oldest of rivals and passions are sure to be high at Hampden, but this milestone is much bigger than our two nations as it's also an opportunity to celebrate 150 years of international football.

“As we have been fortunate enough to experience across the last two major tournaments and hopefully again this winter, the international game has a unique power to bring people together and we should all feel honoured to have the opportunity to reflect on that."

Scotland will take on England at Hampden Park in September 2023. Picture: Alan Harvey / SNS

Scotland Supporters Club members will be given priority access to purchase tickets for Scotland’s fixtures next year when they go on sale. The window for Scotland Supporters Club members to renew their membership for the 2023/24 membership cycle will open on November 23.

The five-match ticket package will then go on sale exclusively to renewing Scotland Supporters Club members on November 30 – the 150th anniversary date of the first international match.

The Scotland Supporters Club will open to new members on December 7 – with single match ticket sales for SSC members commencing on December 14. Tickets will go on sale to non-SSC members from January 11.