Scotland v Japan betting tips and predictions – Tartan Army begin World Cup preparations

Mar 28, 2026 - 07:00

Scotland host Japan at Hampden Park on Saturday evening as Steve Clarke fine-tunes his squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup this summer.

Clarke has been bullish about Scotland’s World Cup hopes and that he wants to be the first ever manager to take the Tartan Army out of the group stage.

Celtic’s Daizen Maeda could well win his 27th cap for Japan at Hampden, but there was no place for Hoops teammate Reo Hatate again.

Scotland v Japan best bets

Both teams to score – 3/4 with Boyle Sports
Bet Builder: Scotland to win, BTTS, McTominay to score first – 18/1 with 247bet
Daizen Maeda to score anytime – 5/2 with 247bet

Scotland v Japan betting tips, predictions, team news and how to watch

Scotland v Japan latest odds

Find the latest Scotland v Japan betting odds here, courtesy of Boyle Sports and subject to change.

Scotland – 2/1
Draw – 9/4
Japan – 23/20

Scotland v Japan prediction

Scotland’s fringe players still have time to “stake their claim” for World Cup places despite there being “more depth” in the squad now, says Scotland’s assistant coach Steven Naismith.

Kilmarnock’s Findlay Curtis has been called up for the first time, while Andy Irving, Dominic Hyam, Ross McCrorie and goalkeeper Liam Kelly are in squad and could pick up just their second caps.

Clarke issued a rallying cry to his players and to the nation as a whole ahead of this summer’s tournament in North America.

It’s an opportunity look at some new players but also consolidate who will be the mainstays when they face Haiti in their World Cup Group C opener.

“The burning desire is to be the first manager to take us out of a group” said Naismith.

“It’s quite an exciting challenge, these next two games, because a couple of countries that Scotland aren’t used to playing, maybe stylistically, very different as well.

“It was a conscious decision to get fixtures like that (Japan and Ivory Coast). They’re two really tough games. That’s the level you are going to come up against at the World Cup.”

Japan have included Premier League trio Daichi Kamada, Ao Tanaka and Kaoru Mitoma in their squad to face Scotland and England in this March international break.

But alongside Hatate’s omission, former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is out with injury, following his move to Ajax in January. So are national team captain Wataru Endo and playmaker Take Kubo.

Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu has praised Scotland’s ‘high-intensity’ in the lead up to Saturday’s fixture.

He said: “Scotland, based on what we have seen in the qualifiers so far, basically creates a block, stops the opponent’s attack, and then launches a quick counterattack.”

Japan pose real attacking threats themselves, but will miss the dynamic Kubo which could sully their goal-threat.

Scotland v Japan betting tips

Both teams to score – 3/4 with Boyle Sports

Both managers will be experimenting ahead of the summer, but will want to build momentum with just four matches until they depart for the World Cup.

It could turn this one into a real end-to-end, intense battle, despite it being labelled a friendly.

With the likes of Scott McTominay, Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon-Doak in the Scotland side and Mitoma, Maeda and Feyenoord striker Ueda for Japan. There won’t be a shortage of attacking talent on show.

Bet Builder: Scotland to win, BTTS, McTominay to score first – 18/1 with 247bet

Home advantage may be the telling factor in this one. Scotland have won their last three games on home turf.

Scott McTominay scoring in two of those games, including the opening over-head kick in the victory over Denmark.

The Scotland talisman is in the form of his life since moving to Napoli and will be the Scots major goal threat.

Daizen Maeda to score anytime – 5/2 with 247bet

Maeda admitted Hampden Park stands out as the best British stadium for atmosphere he’s ever played in.

The Japanese forward has three goals in the stadium, including in the 2024 Scottish League Cup final against Rangers.

His familiarity with the stadium may prove fruitful for the Blue Samurais.

Scotland v Japan predicted lineups

Scotland (4-1-4-1): Gunn; Robertson, Hanley, McKenna, Ralston; Ferguson; Gannon-Doak, McGinn, McTominay, Christie; Conway

Japan (3-5-2-1): Suzuki; Ito, Taniguchi, Seko; Hashioka, Morita, Kamada, Doan; Maeda, Mitoma; Ueda

How to watch Scotland v Japan

Location: Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
Date and time: Saturday 28th March 2026, 5pm
How to watch: BBC One Scotland, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Website

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