There may be additionally a little bit of symmetry about Tuesday’s first-ever assembly between these two sides.
Ivory Coast, at thirty fifth, are 5 locations above Scotland on the planet rankings and are returning to the World Cup finals for the primary time in 12 years.
With a 52,600 capability, Hill Dickinson Stadium is simply above Hampden’s 51,866.
Contemplating the distances concerned for each units of followers, will the attendance get near that, and even the common of about 24,000 Ivory Coast often appeal to to their video games on the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium?
Scotland aren’t any strangers to taking part in in impartial venues, not too long ago going through Gibraltar in Portugal, Ukraine in Poland and, in September, beating Belarus 2-0 in Hungary in a World Cup qualifier additionally switched due to Russia’s invasion.
Nonetheless, probably the most well-known is perhaps the 1977 win over Wales.
Due to capability restrictions and security issues at different grounds, the match was moved to Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium – Wales’ first residence match held outdoors the nation since 1890.
An notorious handball by Joe Jordan received Scotland a controversial penalty, with Don Masson slotting residence the opener earlier than Kenny Dalglish’s late strike settled the tie to ship Scotland to the finals in Argentina as an alternative of their heartbroken hosts.
