7M - International Friendly Preview: Scotland vs Japan prediction, team news, lineups

Scotland and Japan, both bound for this summers World Cup, meet at Hampden Park on Mar 28, 2026, 5.00pm as part of their final pre tournament preparations. Both sides are scheduled to play their first group game on June 14.

Scotland recent form and home pressures

Scotland qualified for their first World Cup in 28 years by edging Denmark in a dramatic Group C finale at Hampden, with Scott McTominay sparking the contest via an overhead kick, before Scotland ultimately won through Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLeans late long distance finish deep into injury time.

They arrive on the back of strong recent momentum, having won eight of their last 12 matches, after a poor earlier spell that included one win and 10 defeats from their previous 16. They also beat Liechtenstein 4-0 in their most recent friendly, but they remain winless at home for 10 matches dating back to 2016, giving the weekend an extra incentive to break the drought.

Japans rising friendly record and attacking edge

Japan head in with a more impressive friendly run, including wins over Brazil, Ghana and Bolivia last autumn. The Samurai Blue have won five of their last six games against European nations, scoring four goals in each of their last two such wins, a 4-1 triumph vs Germany and a 4-2 result against Turkiye.

Overall, Japan have won seven of their last 10 matches, with qualification form backing their confidence: they collected 23 points from 10 qualifiers, averaging three goals per game while conceding just three, sealing progress with three rounds to spare.

Team news

Scotland are missing winger Ben Gannon Doak, but have recalled Nathan Patterson and Billy Gilmour. Scott McTominay and John McGinn are available again after recent lay offs. Craig Gordon, who started against Denmark at 42, has been dropped as Angus Gunn returns. Tommy Conway and teenage winger Findlay Curtis add forward options. No Hearts or Motherwell players were selected.

Japan are without Ko Itakura and Takehiro Tomiyasu, as well as Take Kubo, Takumi Minamino and captain Wataru Endo, who has undergone ankle surgery and faces a race to be fit. Zion Suzuki is back after a serious hand injury. Daizen Maeda is expected to aim for a role in Glasgow, with Ayase Ueda a potential attacking option alongside Kubo, who has recently assisted 16 goals in 25 international appearances.

Possible lineups

Scotland: Gunn; Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson; Ferguson, Gilmour; McGinn, McTominay, Christie; Adams
Japan: Z. Suzuki; Watanabe, J. Suzuki, Taniguchi; Doan, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Kubo, Mitoma; Ueda

Prediction: Scotland 1-2 Japan