Scotland will face Switzerland in St Gallen instead of Geneva for their Nations League qualifier in November, after the Swiss FA downgraded the venue over fears of a poor turnout. Last result: Scotland 0-3 Brazil (2026-06-24).

Why the venue changed

Swiss football chiefs have moved the game from the 30,000-capacity Stade de Geneve to the 19,694-capacity Kybunpark in St Gallen. The change follows a crowd of just 12,757 for Switzerland’s World Cup qualifier against Slovenia in Basel last year, which left the Swiss FA embarrassed. Peter Knabel, the Swiss FA president, said the decision was driven by logistical reasons, stadium size, the ability to fill it and cost.

Scotland, currently managerless, are in a tough Nations League group with Slovenia, North Macedonia and Switzerland. Their away clash with the Swiss in November is the last match in the group phase. The Scots have lost their last three games, including a heavy defeat to Brazil on 24 June.

What the Swiss are saying

Knabel explained the smaller stadium was chosen to avoid another embarrassing turnout. Switzerland will play their other two home Nations League games in Lucerne, where they hope for better crowds. The Kybunpark’s reduced capacity is a clear sign the Swiss want to avoid a repeat of last year’s poor attendance.

Scotland’s next fixture is a Nations League trip to Slovenia on 26 September. The team’s recent form reads 2W-0D-3L (LLLWW, most recent first), with three straight losses ending their last two wins. The Nations League campaign is now a must-win run for Steve Clarke’s side.

What it means for Scotland

The move to St Gallen hands Scotland a slight advantage. A smaller stadium could ease travel and cut costs, but the Swiss will still be heavy favourites. Clarke’s side need a response after the Brazil loss, and a point in Slovenia would steady the ship before the Swiss test.

Swiss fans may grumble about the change, but the FA’s priority is avoiding another empty seats embarrassment. For Scotland, the focus is on recovery and results in a group that already looks tough. Recent form shows they’re in no mood to roll over, even without a permanent manager in place.