Glasgow’s OVO Hydro is preparing to host live screenings of all three of Scotland’s World Cup group matches this summer. The 14,300 capacity venue will show the games against Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil on big screens, endorsed by the Scottish Football Association, with pre-match entertainment for fans of all ages.
Dominic McKay, chief executive of the Scottish Event Campus, said: “This summer is a moment that lives beyond football. It will be a moment of national significance and we want to create a place where the nation can gather to celebrate and cheer on Scotland.”
The SFA’s chief executive Ian Maxwell added: “This will be a summer to remember for Scotland supporters, whether they are making the trek to America or cheering on the team closer to home. I know those going to the stadiums will make themselves heard and it’ll be the same at the OVO Hydro. It’s an iconic venue that has had some memorable moments. We’d like to add a few of our own and raise the roof in the process.”
Scotland in a World Cup still feels slightly surreal. Scotland at a World Cup being shown live in an arena that normally hosts Lewis Capaldi and Beyonce feels even more so. But the demand is clearly there, and the OVO Hydro is a natural choice for it.
Fans can register their interest for tickets on the OVO Hydro website. If the last qualification campaign is anything to go by, tickets will not be hanging around long. Whether the actual football matches will justify the occasion is another question entirely, but that has never stopped Scotland fans before and it will not stop them now.