2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying. Scotland welcome Albania to the Paisley 2021 Stadium for their opening home match in Group 2. Kick-off is at 7.30pm and spectating is free.
Scotland’s quest to qualify for the next Women’s World Cup, taking place in France in summer 2019, continues tonight the Scots having opened their campaign with a first qualifying match away to Belarus last Friday.
Tonight’s fixture against Albania is both the team’s first match in Scotland since their participation in the UEFA Women’s Euros 2017 and also head coach Shelley Kerr’s first in charge of the team on home soil. Kerr will be looking to build on a winning start after her first match in charge resulted in a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Hungary in Budapest last month.
Scotland have been drawn in Group 2 alongside top seeds Switzerland, Poland, Belarus and Albania. After making their major tournament debut at the Women’s Euros earlier this year, Scotland will be aiming to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. Aside from Scotland’s match against Belaurus, so far in Group 2 Switzerland have started well with a 4-1 win in Albania and in beating Poland 2-1 in Biel. Poland had opened with a 4-1 victory against Belarus, who then saw off Albania 1-0.
Scotland will go into tonight’s match as the hot favourites, not just because of Albania’s record of two losses from two matches so far. The latest FIFA women’s rankings (as at 1st September) have Scotland ranked at No.23 team in the world versus Albania at No.73.
Kick-off at 7.30pm.
Spectating is free.