Scotland will take on the Netherlands in the play-off semi-final of the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015. The home game will take place on 25/26 October, with the second leg on 29/30 October. The winner will go in to the two-legged play-off final against either Italy or Ukraine, on 22/23 and 26/27 November. Scotland last faced the Netherlands at the Cyprus Women's Cup in March, when a Lisa Evans hat-trick and a Jennifer Beattie goal sealed a 4-3 win for Anna Signeul's side. Scotland also beat the Netherlands at the same tournament in 2013 (1-0) and 2012 (2-1).
Scotland go in to the play-offs at the end of a qualifying campaign in which the only points dropped were against world number five side Sweden. Scotland scored 37 goals, conceding just eight, and striker Jane Ross finished as joint-top scorer across the European qualifying groups with 13 goals, including three hat-tricks. This is a first ever FIFA Women's World Cup play-off appearance for Scotland, following back-to-back UEFA Women's Euro play-offs.
Scotland national coach, Anna Signeul, said: "We know what to expect in a play-off environment, having narrowly missed out in the last two Euro play-offs, and I believe those experiences will be benefit us as we strive to reach the finals of a major tournament for the first time. Fortunately we have also had the opportunity to play against The Netherlands a number of times in recent years, mainly at the Cyprus Women's Cup. We have good record against them at that tournament, winning the last three matches, but we know how tough these upcoming play-off matches will be. We go in to this play-off at the end of a very positive qualifying campaign where we won eight games and only lost to one of the best teams in the world, Sweden. The Netherlands have also had a great campaign, only dropping points in a defeat to Norway and a draw to Belgium. They are a fast and technical team and have many full-time professionals in their squad playing outside of The Netherlands. They have one of the emerging stars of women's football in their side - Vivianne Miedema - who inspired them to the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship title summer. She was also joint-top scorer in this qualifying campaign alongside Eniola Aluko of England, Gaetane Thiney of France, and of course, our own Jane Ross."
While Scotland are looking to reach a finals tournament for the first time, the Netherlands reached their first major tournament, UEFA Women's Euro 2009, via the play-offs, eventually reaching the semi-finals. Italy are the only one of the four teams in the play-offs to have reached the World Cup, in 1991 and 1999. Either Scotland or the Netherlands will face Italy or Ukraine in the play-off second round on 22/23 & 26/27 November. The draw for the finals takes place in Ottawa on 6 December.
The tournament takes place from 6 June - 5 July 2015. 24 teams will compete; and those who have already qualified are: Canada (hosts), Australia, China, Japan (holders), South Korea, Thailand, England, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.