Hill Dickinson Stadium to host first international fixture

Hill Dickinson Stadium will stage its first senior men’s international football fixture on Tuesday 31 March 2026.

The 52,769-capacity waterfront stadium will welcome two nations who have qualified for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, with the fixture forming part of Pitch International’s ‘Road to 26’ international series.

Côte d’Ivoire, three-time Africa Cup of Nations winners, return to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years after an impressive unbeaten qualifying campaign. Scotland secured their place in dramatic fashion, ending a 28-year wait for a World Cup Finals appearance with a decisive victory over Denmark.

Supporters can expect to see several familiar names in action, including Everton’s Nathan Patterson, Napoli’s Scott McTominay, Aston Villa’s John McGinn and Evann Guessand, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo and former Crystal Palace captain Wilfried Zaha, as both teams fine-tune preparations for the summer tournament in North America.

Alongside members of the Scotland Supporters’ Club, Everton Season Ticket Members, Premium Members and Forever Blue+ Members will receive priority access to tickets for the fixture ahead of general sale.

Tickets will be priced from £27 for Adults and £16 for Under-16s (plus booking fees). Premium Members will also have the opportunity to purchase a range of bars, restaurants and premium experiences via Seat Unique from £120, subject to availability.

Further details on the ticket and Premium sales process and timings will be confirmed next week.

Angus Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer at Everton Football Club, said:

“Hosting our first senior men’s international fixture is an important milestone for Hill Dickinson Stadium and underlines its credentials as a world-class venue for major sporting occasions.

“To stage the first-ever meeting between Scotland and Ivory Coast is a fitting moment, and we look forward to welcoming two World Cup-qualified nations and their supporters to Liverpool’s waterfront for what promises to be a special night of international football.”

Scotland Head Coach Steve Clarke said:

“We’re pleased to confirm Côte d’Ivoire as our second opponents for the March international window, following on from Japan’s visit to Glasgow. We wanted to face African opposition before we play Morocco in the summer, and I’m sure Côte d’Ivoire will give us a really stern test.

“It will also be good to play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. The supporters will enjoy the opportunity to visit the new stadium.”

Côte d’Ivoire Head Coach Emerse Faé, who played for his nation in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, added:

“Coming to Liverpool to face Scotland will be an excellent test for us against European opposition ahead of the FIFA World Cup. It is a great opportunity to measure our level against players from top clubs, many of whom we know well from the Premier League.

“We are very happy to play this friendly in such a fantastic atmosphere, in a wonderful stadium, in front of passionate Scottish fans. We are really excited to be there.”

Since opening in August 2025, Hill Dickinson Stadium has already demonstrated its ability to host not only Premier League football but major sporting events, including a historic sold-out Rugby League Ashes fixture between England and Australia last November. The stadium will also welcome Rugby League’s Magic Weekend in July and is set to play a key role as a host venue for UEFA EURO 2028, with further major events due to be announced in the coming weeks.

The historic match between Scotland and Côte d’Ivoire is being promoted by Pitch International, a leading sports marketing agency specialising in major sporting events, global media rights, hospitality and sponsorship, as part of its long-standing work supporting international football.