Scotland Prepares for World Cup 2023 at Charlotte FC Training Facility

omidbasir- Scotland has qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998.

The Scottish FA has announced that the national team will set up their training camp at the home of Charlotte FC throughout the tournament. Head coach Steve Clarke visited various facilities in the United States following December’s draw, which placed Scotland in a group alongside Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil.

After careful consideration, the Scottish FA has chosen the state-of-the-art training facility at Charlotte FC as their base, with the squad accommodated nearby. The Atrium Health Performance Park, which opened in 2023, serves as home to Charlotte’s first team, NextGen, and Academy squads.

This impressive 52,000-square-foot complex features eight pitches, providing Scotland with all the amenities necessary for their preparations as they return to the World Cup for the first time in 25 years.

Scotland will kick off their group stage campaign against Haiti in Boston on Sunday, June 14 (02:00 BST), followed by a match against Morocco on Friday, June 19 (23:00), again in Boston. They will conclude their group matches against five-time champions Brazil in Miami on Wednesday, June 24 (23:00). The team will travel to and from these host cities from their North Carolina base.

Clarke expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating: “We explored FIFA-nominated options against our own criteria, and Charlotte FC has an exceptional MLS training facility with everything we need to prepare for our matches. The staff at Charlotte FC have been incredibly welcoming.

“As many competing nations are aware, travel logistics will play a significant role in this World Cup. Our base in Charlotte is conveniently located near the airport, with approximately two-hour flights to Boston and Miami for our group stage games. We are optimistic that this will provide us with the best conditions for tournament preparation, marking another exciting milestone as we approach the summer.”

In the lead-up to the World Cup, Scotland will participate in four friendly matches to fine-tune their squad. The confirmation of their training base is the latest development in their World Cup preparations.

Three friendlies have already been scheduled as Clarke seeks to optimize his lineup for the challenges ahead and finalize his squad. The first match will be against Japan at Hampden on March 28, followed by a game against Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool three days later.

Scotland will also have a send-off match at Hampden on May 30 against Curacao, the smallest nation ever to qualify for the finals. After these fixtures, Clarke and his team will travel to the United States to commence their World Cup countdown in earnest, with one more friendly against Peru in New Jersey planned as a final warm-up before facing Haiti.