After 28 long years away from football’s biggest stage, Scotland will fine-tune their World Cup dream at Inter Miami CF’s Florida Blue Training Center. The Tartan Army’s heroes land in Fort Lauderdale from June 1 to June 5, training on the same fields that hosted Argentina, FC Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund. Their World Cup opener against Haiti is now just days away.
Scotland’s South Florida Stopover Begins June 1
Inter Miami CF confirmed the news on Friday morning, announcing that Steve Clarke’s squad will use the state-of-the-art complex as a launchpad for their summer campaign.
The Scots will spend five full days in Fort Lauderdale before moving north to their official tournament base camp at Charlotte FC’s facility in North Carolina.
Head coach Steve Clarke spoke warmly about the partnership in the official announcement. He said his players were excited to step up their World Cup preparations on American soil.
“The staff at Inter Miami CF have been very accommodating, and we’re looking forward to getting over there as we step up our preparations for the World Cup.”
Steve Clarke, Scotland Men’s National Team Head Coach
The American leg kicks off after Scotland host Curacao at Hampden Park on May 30 in their final home send-off friendly. They will then play Bolivia in New Jersey on June 6 before settling into Charlotte for the tournament proper.
A Tough Group C Test Awaits the Tartan Army
Scotland have been handed one of the most demanding draws in the tournament. They sit in Group C with five-time champions Brazil, 2022 semifinalists Morocco, and Caribbean returners Haiti.
This marks Scotland’s ninth World Cup appearance and their first since France 1998. They booked their ticket with a dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark on the final night of UEFA qualifying.
Their three group matches are split between Boston and Miami, racking up plenty of air miles for Clarke’s men.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kick-off (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 13 | Haiti | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 9:00 PM |
| June 19 | Morocco | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 6:00 PM |
| June 24 | Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | 6:00 PM |
The Brazil clash at Hard Rock Stadium feels especially poetic. Scotland’s pre-tournament training base sits a short drive from where Vinícius Júnior and his Seleção teammates will roll into Miami Gardens.
Under the new 48-team format, Scotland can advance as group winners, runners-up, or as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
World-Class Facility With a Star-Studded History
The Florida Blue Training Center is no ordinary soccer complex. Inter Miami spent around $60 million to build the 50,000-square-foot facility, which spreads across more than 30 acres of green space.
The site features six natural grass pitches and one turf field, along with hydrotherapy rooms, a high-tech performance lab, weight rooms, treatment areas, and a kitchen built for elite athletes.
The list of past visitors reads like a roll call of global football royalty:
- Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, before their 2022 triumph and again ahead of Copa América
- FC Barcelona during their 2022 U.S. preseason tour
- Borussia Dortmund ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
- The U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams
- Gotham FC, the reigning NWSL champions, for their 2026 preseason
Scotland are not the only national team using the Inter Miami family of venues this June. Haiti, preparing for their first World Cup in 51 years, face New Zealand on June 2 at Inter Miami CF Stadium before meeting Peru on June 5 in the first ever friendly at the brand-new Nu Stadium in Miami.
Turkey are also coming, taking on Venezuela on June 6 at Inter Miami CF Stadium as part of their final tune-up.
Squad Reveal and the Road Ahead
Steve Clarke is set to name his final 26-man squad on Tuesday, May 19. The Scotland boss has hinted he is “more or less” settled but still has two positions giving him headaches.
Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay leads the charge. Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, Aston Villa’s John McGinn, and Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie complete the experienced spine of the side.
The striker selection remains Clarke’s biggest puzzle after Scotland failed to score in back-to-back March friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast. Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams, and Lawrence Shankland are the front-runners for the limited forward spots.
Veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who returned to Hearts training this week at age 43, remains in the picture despite recent shoulder issues.
After their stay at Florida Blue Training Center, the squad will move into Charlotte FC’s Atrium Health Performance Park, which the Scottish FA confirmed as their official base camp back in February. The Charlotte location was chosen for its near-equal flight time to both Boston and Miami.
For the Tartan Army back home, the timing brings its own challenge. Group stage kick-offs at 2am, midnight, and 11pm UK time mean a long summer of late nights and lost sleep.
Scotland’s path back to the World Cup has been a 28-year story filled with heartbreak, near misses, and crushing playoff defeats. Now, with elite training conditions waiting in sunny Fort Lauderdale, a fired-up squad of Premier League and Serie A regulars, and a passionate Tartan Army ready to cross the Atlantic, the dream feels closer than it has in decades. Steve Clarke’s golden generation has one final chance to break Scotland’s group stage curse and write a new chapter. Drop your predictions in the comments and tell us where you think Scotland will finish in Group C, then share this story with your fellow fans using #TartanArmy on social media.
