Scotland send-off set to smash attendance record for women's match

(Reuters) – Scotland look set to smash the attendance record for a women’s soccer match on Tuesday when they play Jamaica in a friendly at Hampden Park, their final game before they head off to France for their maiden World Cup campaign.

British media reported that a crowd of up to 25,000 was expected at the home of Scottish soccer, shattering the previous record of 4,098 set when Shelley Kerr’s side beat Switzerland 2-1 in a qualifier at St Mirren Park.

More than 4,000 turned out the first time the women’s team played at the 52,000-capacity Hampden Park stadium in 2012 and Kerr said the increase in interest over the last seven years had been earned by her team.

“It is fitting that this game is being played at Hampden. This will show how the women’s game has grown in Scotland,” she told the Guardian newspaper.

“But it will also be a huge credit to the players, showing how inspiring they’ve been throughout the campaign. The very fact that they’re going to the World Cup says something.

“Being honest, it will be emotional for me tomorrow night if we do get that big crowd, over 10,000. I will have that wry smile and whatever happens in the future, I will be one happy coach.”

Scotland topped their qualifying group to reach the June 7-July 7 finals in France, where they will play England, Argentina and Japan in Group D in the opening round.

They kickoff their campaign against England in Nice on June 9.