2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Play-off First Round
Scotland v Austria
Thursday, 6 October (7:35pm)
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Hampden Park is set for another momentous night on Thursday, as Scotland host Austria in a play-off match ahead of next summer's FIFA Women's World Cup. 

A win would set up another home tie against Republic of Ireland next Tuesday and the Scots go into the match in good form, with a 4-0 win against Ukraine and a 6-0 victory against the Faroe Islands in our last two competitive outings. 

However, Pedro Martinez Losa's side will be taking nothing for granted against their Austrian opponents - who reached the quarter-finals of the European Championships this summer, before losing to eventual finalists Germany.

 

The Scotland head coach has opted to name a 25-strong group for the play-offs, with Christy Grimshaw and Kirsty Hanson returning to the larger squad.

Tickets for Thursday's match and a potential encounter with Republic of Ireland next week, are still available to buy. 

The match will also see the Ravenscraig Pioneers honoured pre-match, 50 years on from the Scotland Women's Team's first official match against England.

Pre-match thoughts

Having already experienced two major international finals, as part of the squads that competed in UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019, Christie Murray is desperate to return to the biggest stage, as Scotland prepare for their latest qualification hurdle on Thursday.

She said: "I think it just makes you all the more determined to get back there. When you’ve enjoyed an experience like that, and everything that comes with it, you just want the chance to do it all over again.

"When there’s a good core of the squad has been through that together, it does settle the nerves. We’ve had the highs and the lows along the way.

"I’m getting older now and maybe that plays a part, but I don’t remember ever really being fazed by something like this. It means everything, but there’s also no need to build it up too much in your head.

"It’s a game of football and we’ve being doing that all our lives. There are potentially two games between us and a World Cup. This is what it’s all about."

You can hear more from the experienced Birmingham City midfielder in Thursday's matchday programme. 

Tickets 

Tickets for the crunch tie against Austria remain on sale, with adult tickets priced at £10 and concessions available for £5, while SSC members can claim a free match ticket. 

Where to watch 

BBC Alba has live coverage of Thursday's match, with coverage from 7:25pm ahead of a 7:35pm kick off.