Scotland Defeat Haiti 1-0 in 2026 World Cup Opener

Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 at Boston Stadium in a 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage match. John McGinn scored the only goal. The victory marked Scotland's first World Cup win in 36 years. Scotland sit top of Group C after the opening round of matches.

Brazil and Morocco are the other teams in the group. 05 against Haiti, ranked 83rd in the world. Scotland kept a clean sheet.

Scott McTominay hit the post. The team recorded zero expected goals from set plays. Scotland's next match is against Morocco on Friday at Boston Stadium. Former Scotland player James McFadden said winning games at major tournaments is not something Scotland do regularly.

He added that the resilience shown was forged in this group and that he would have taken an ugly 1-0 win beforehand. McFadden said the next two games will be tough but that the team has dealt with the pressure of this game. Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said nobody is going to be quaking in their boots to play Scotland but that opponents do not know the team can do a lot better.

With eight third-place finishers advancing to the last 32, Scotland's goal difference will matter if the team finishes on three points. 5 percent chance of progression as one of the best eight third-placed teams. 3 percent chance.

A goal difference of zero would bring a 96 percent chance of progression. In seven previous World Cup tournaments from 1998 to 2022, the fifth-best third-placed team finished with at least three points each time. Colombia finished as the fifth-best third-placed team in 1998 with three points and a minus-two goal difference.

Poland finished in that position in 2006 with three points and a minus-two goal difference. Ivory Coast finished fifth-best in 2010 with three points and a plus-one goal difference.