⚽ The Kick-Off - Thursday 18th June 2026
Derek McInnes appointed new Rangers manager. Signings for Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Partick Thistle. Falkirk sell Barney Stewart for club record fee. SPFL fixtures announced today.
Random Scottish Football Fact #329:
Four of the current World Cup squad are in the top 10 of all-time most-capped Scotland players - Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Craig Gordon, and Scott McTominay.
WORLD CUP
🏟️ The Scottish FA has raised concerns with FIFA over fan safety at the Boston Stadium following long waits and bottlenecks at the Haiti game. - Matthew Fulton, STV
Speaking from someone who was at the Haiti game, everyone appeared to be trying to get into the same entrance gate number two. There was a lack of signage, and the volunteers weren’t making too much effort to direct people. If you asked them, they directed you to quieter entry points.
📺 Are you needing a boots on the ground vlog of what it is like to be in the States supporting Scotland? Craig Telfer has been doing a daily update for the Terrace from the World Cup.
📱 The Scottish FA has launched a new Scotland App. - Scottish FA website
😔 Sad news from Boston that Scotland fan Donny Strathie died on Sunday ahead of tomorrow’s game against Morocco. It had been his dream to witness a Scotland match at the World Cup. - Calum Loudon, STV
OTHER NEWS
🔵 It was finally confirmed today that Danny Rohl has left Rangers to join RB Salzburg, with Hearts manager Derek McInnes his replacement. - Martin Watt, BBC
🔴 Aberdeen continued their rebuild yesterday with the signing of midfielder Connor Ronan from Colorado Rapids. - Aberdeen FC website
✍️ Falkirk have received a club record fee from West Bromwich Albion for Barney Stewart. - BBC
🔵 St Johnstone have signed winger Unax Álvarez de Eulate following his departure from Spanish third-tier club CD Guadalajara. - St Johnstone website
✍️ Partick Thistle have signed Seb Drozd from Queen’s Park on a two-year deal. - Partick Thistle website
🏆 Hearts, Hibs, and Motherwell found out their first European qualifier opponents.
Hearts have drawn Austrian side Sturm Graz in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
Hibernian will face Albanian side KF Vllaznia or FC Malisheva of Kosovo in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round.
Motherwell will face Havnar Bóltfelag of the Faroe Islands in the Conference League second qualifying round.
✍️ Calem Nieuwenhof has joined Perth Glory on loan from Hearts. - Joel Sked, Hearts Standard
🔵 Jordan Allan and Brennan Dickenson have left Queen of the South at the end of their contracts. - Queen of the South website
🆕 Stranraer unveiled their new away shirt. - Stranraer FC website
🟢 Eddie May is to leave Hibs after 12 years of service. - Hibernian website
🆚 Dundee will head to Hungary as part of their pre-season preparations before hosting Everton in a friendly on July 18. - Dundee FC website
🆚 Hearts will face UEFA Conference League runners-up Rayo Vallecano in pre-season to mark 140 years of Tynecastle Park. - Heart of Midlothian website
🆚 A reminder that the new SPFL season’s fixtures are announced today at 12 noon.
WORLD CUP FIXTURES TODAY
🏆 GROUP A
Czech Republic v South Africa (5pm - live on BBC One)
Mexico v South Korea (2am - live on BBC One)
🏆 GROUP B
Switzerland v Bosnia & Herzegovina (8pm - live on STV)
Canada v Qatar (11pm - live on STV)
🙏🏼 Thank you for reading today’s Scottish Football Kick-Off. 🗣️ If you like getting this email, please recommend it to a friend, work colleague or family member or consider becoming a paid subscriber. The Scottish Football Kick-Off is reader supported. 📱 Latest subscriber number: 2978 🆓 The daily kick-off will always be free.



Also today, SWNT will find out their play-off opponents in the next phase of the convoluted European route to WC Brazil 2027.