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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

England to face Scotland in 150th anniversary match as FA confirm 2023 fixtures - and Old Trafford qualifier

England and Scotland will celebrate 150 years of their rivalry with a friendly at Hampden Park next year.

The game, which has been officially called a 150th Anniversary Heritage Match, will take place on September 12 during England’s qualifying campaign for Euro 2024.

That match will commemorate England and Scotland’s first encounter at Hamilton Crescent in November 1872, recognised by FIFA as the inaugural international match.

England manager Gareth Southgate said: “Any meeting with Scotland is always special. I imagine though that this occasion will be even more memorable as it celebrates such a landmark moment.

“Of course, ourselves and Scotland are the oldest of rivals and passions are sure to be high at Hampden but this milestone is much bigger than our two nations as it’s also an opportunity to celebrate 150 years of international football.

“As we have been fortunate enough to experience across the last two major tournaments and hopefully again this winter, the international game has a unique power to bring people together and we should all feel honoured to have the opportunity to reflect on that.”

England have also confirmed their other key fixtures for 2023, which will see them begin their qualifying campaign for Euro 2024.

The Three Lions’ road to Germany will include a qualifying game against North Macedonia at Old Trafford on June 19. It will be the first time in over 16 years that Old Trafford has staged a men’s international.

Since 1926, the Three Lions have played at the home of Manchester United on 17 previous occasions with the last of those being the goalless draw with Spain in February 2007.

Before that match with North Macedonia, England will begin the qualifying campaign with a trip to Italy on March 23 before returning to Wembley Stadium to face Ukraine three days later.

England men’s 2023 fixtures:

Italy v England - TBC – Thursday 23 March (7.45pm kick-off)

England v Ukraine – Wembley Stadium connected by EE – Sunday 26 March (5pm kick-off)

Malta v England – Ta’ Qali Stadium – Friday 16 June (7.45pm kick-off)

England v North Macedonia – Old Trafford – Monday 19 June (7.45pm kick-off)

Ukraine v England – TBC – Saturday 9 September (5pm kick-off)

Scotland v England – Hampden Park – Tuesday 12 September (7.45pm kick-off)

England v Italy – Wembley Stadium connected by EE – Tuesday 17 October (7.45pm kick-off)

England v Malta - Wembley Stadium connected by EE – Friday 17 November (7.45pm kick-off)

North Macedonia v England – Toše Proeski Arena – Monday 20 November (7.45pm kick-off)

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