October’s friendlies with Morocco and Switzerland present Scotland with a chance to assess “new things” before the “awesome challenge” of World Cup qualifying, says Melissa Andreatta.
The head coach has handed Scotland Under-23 defender Georgia Brown her first A squad call-up after the 23-year-old Sporting Club Jacksonville defender “performed well” for the age grade team in May.
The centre-back is one of four changes from Andreatta’s first squad as boss earlier in 2025, with Mia McAulay, Kirsty Hanson and Kirsty Smith recalled.
“It’s an opportunity for us to really look at players, our playing idea and things that we think are going to help us for the qualification next year,” Andreatta said.
“Everything’s got to be earned and we are really working hard to find extra percentages and things we can do differently, things we can leverage that we do well so that we earn the right to be at that major tournament because that’s going to be a mission.”
English-born Brown, who qualifies through her paternal grandparents, fills the defensive void left by retired former captain Rachel Corsie.
The head coach has not named the next Scotland skipper following Corsie’s retirement in the summer and said she “really wants to take my time” to know her squad and make the decision, which will be done before the qualification campaign starts in February.
Midfielders Chelsea Cornet and Emma Watson drop out of this squad alongside winger Brogan Hay.
Morocco trip ‘replicates potential World Cup journey’
The first of four friendlies before the end of the year takes the Scots on the uncommon trip to Africa, with Casablanca the host city for the Morocco match on 24 October.
The Swiss then visit Dunfermline’s East End Park four days later.
Australian Andreatta, who was previously her country’s assistant coach, said the opponents were picked with an eye on the “potential challenges” the team could face at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
“We looked at all the details of travel from here to Morocco, it replicates going from the south of Brazil to the north, should we have to play in different venues,” Andreatta said.
“So, we really want to expose everybody to the potential challenges that you would face in a major tournament.”
The Scots are aiming to reach a first finals since the 2019 World Cup and Andreatta will not hesitate in using the pathway – like Brown – to achieve “the mission”.
“We thought this was the right time to bring [Georgia] in and to expose her to our environment, the level and see how she handles it,” the head coach said of the USA-based defender.
“I keep a close eye on the whole pathway and Mick [McArdle] and I work very closely together.
“Those performances in the last window were great and part of the reason why we’ve selected her.”
Scotland squad
Defenders: Georgia Brown (Sporting Club Jacksonville), Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Como), Emma Lawton (Celtic), Rachel McLauchlan (Brighton & Hove Albion), Amy Muir (Glasgow City), Kirsty Smith (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lauren Davidson (Brann), Freya Gregory (Newcastle United), Sam Kerr (Liverpool), Kirsty MacLean (Liverpool), Amy Rodgers (Nottingham Forest), Caroline Weir (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa), Kirsty Howat (Crystal Palace), Mia McAulay (Rangers), Kathleen McGovern (Hibernian), Martha Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur).
