John McGinn scored the only goal as Scotland opened their World Cup campaign with a nervous win over Haiti. The Scots were playing on the global stage for the first time since 1998 as they trekked out to Boston, Massachusetts, and produced an entertaining game worthy of a near three-decade wait. A route-one attack kept Haiti pinned for much of the first half, with Ben Gannon-Doak causing countless problems for his markers. It was one of his driving runs and subsequent cross which forced the Johnny Placide error that teed up McGinn’s opener - the eventual winner.
For Haiti, it is a disappointing return to the finals after an even longer spell away. Come the second half of this match they were vastly improved and dictated the pace of play, but sorely lacked a clinical edge and missed chance after presentable chance. They were valiant in defeat but will be frustrated to sit bottom of the group after matchday one.
After Brazil and Morocco ground out a 1-1 draw earlier in the day, though, it is the Scots who sit top of the pile. Follow the match as it happens below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Arthur Ferridge at the Boston Stadium.
Haiti vs Scotland latest news
- GOAL! McGinn scores Scotland's first goal of the summer
- How to watch: BBC Sport
- Haiti XI
- Scotland XI
FULL-TIME: Haiti 0-1 Scotland
04:02 , Arthur Ferridge
Scotland make a winning start to the World Cup, despite their best efforts.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:59 , Arthur Ferridge
McLean catches Casimir high on the knee with his studs but remarkably seems to have escaped with a yellow card. You’ve seen people sent off already at this tournament for much, much less.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:58 , Arthur Ferridge
90+3mins: Scotland clear their lines, but Haiti come again through Pierrot, who forces a good parry from Gunn.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:57 , Arthur Ferridge
Free-kick to Haiti, about 35 yards from the byline. This could be the game, folks.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:54 , Arthur Ferridge
There will be six added minutes here.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:48 , Arthur Ferridge
85mins: Pierrot heads wide! That was a great chance to level it up.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:47 , Arthur Ferridge
83mins: McGinn and Shankland come off for McLean and Curtis. Can McLean produce another late stunner here as he did against Denmark?
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:44 , Arthur Ferridge
An attendance figure of 64,146 is announced as a “full house”, despite the Boston Stadium’s reported capacity being some 500 seats greater than that. Go figure.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:43 , Arthur Ferridge
78mins: Scotland are facing a period of very high pressure from Haiti. Patterson makes a smart block to give them a corner, which is well cleared.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:39 , Arthur Ferridge
75mins: Three Scotland changes now. Christie, Dykes and Patterson replace Hickey, Gannon-Doak and Adams.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:37 , Arthur Ferridge
73mins: Huge chance for McGinn! Hickey’s header slots the Villa man in behind and he fires narrowly wide of the left post.
Moments later Haiti set Scottish hearts racing as a shot flashes wide of Angus Gunn’s net.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:35 , Arthur Ferridge
72mins: Two changes in the offing for Scotland here, with Dykes and Christie being readied to come on.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:34 , Arthur Ferridge
71mins: We are back underway after the drinks break, and immediately Scotland win a free-kick high on the left flank.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:31 , Arthur Ferridge
66mins: It has all gone a bit quiet here in Boston - a bit of a damp spell. McGinn is brought down as Scotland look to break in transition, and that takes us to the drinks break.
Scotland scored immediately after the first-half break. Can they make this one count?
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:23 , Arthur Ferridge
59mins: Robertson has been lively in this second half. Another tidy cross finds Shankland and the ex-Hearts man wins a corner.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:20 , Arthur Ferridge
56mins: Scotland get two bites at the resulting corner and neither produces any great goal threat.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:19 , Arthur Ferridge
55mins: A wonderful low cross from Robertson bounces across the box and Shankland can’t quite turn it goalwards. Gannon-Doak picks up the pieces and wins a corner.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:16 , Arthur Ferridge
53mins: A teasing cross from Providence floats behind the Scotland goal.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:13 , Arthur Ferridge
50mins: Gannon-Doak leaves Experience in the dust, but is bundled out of play before he can capitalise on the space. Remarkably, the Haiti man escapes without a booking for that most cynical of fouls.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:12 , Arthur Ferridge
47mins: The first notable action of the second half comes in the form of Aaron Hickey being booked.
2ND HALF: Haiti 0-1 Scotland
03:08 , Arthur Ferridge
We are back underway with Scotland in the driving seat - but it is all to play for. Can Scotland twist the knife or will Haiti battle back?
HALF-TIME: Haiti 0-1 Scotland
02:52 , Arthur Ferridge
And there’s the break!
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
02:51 , Arthur Ferridge
45+4mins: Gannon-Doak does wonderfully to skip past two tackles and dash into the area, but cries of frustration go up from the stands as his unselfish cross proves wayward.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
02:47 , Arthur Ferridge
45mins: Hanley is totally unperturbed by Providence’s twinkletoes footwork as he looks to break into the Scotland box. He turns back and dishes a well-placed cross to Pierrot, whose touch is heavy and puts the kibosh on the attack.
And we are into four minutes of added time.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
02:44 , Arthur Ferridge
42mins: Jeers go up from the Scotland end of the stadium as Bellegarde hooks a curling effort well high and well wide. Tough afternoon for the Wolves man so far - his was the deflection for McGinn’s goal, he’s been booked, and he’s been largely blunt in attack. Other than that, good performance. Play on.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
02:43 , Arthur Ferridge
41mins: Louicious skips past McGinn and spins a nice cross into the corridor of uncertainty, but the flag goes up as his target strayed offside. He didn’t win the header, anyway.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
02:41 , Arthur Ferridge
39mins: Bellegarde goes into the book for a heavy-handed tackle.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
02:40 , Arthur Ferridge
38mins: Hanley with a smart last-ditch tackle to break up a direct and threatening attack.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
02:37 , Arthur Ferridge
34mins: Double save from Angus Gunn! He hasn’t really covered himself in glory there, rather spilled the first shot he faced from a tight angle and did well to deny close-range rebound. good recovery, in any case.
Arthur Ferridge reports from the Boston Stadium
02:33 , Arthur Ferridge
Whatever Clarke said between the first and second quarter’s plainly had an effect. That was a lovely goal. It all started as Hanley pinged one long for Che Adams and he plucked it out of the air with the deft class of Dimitar Berbatov.
Gannon-Doak’s direct dribbling carved Haiti open, and it was McGinn’s clinical finish - and a modicum of good luck - that gave them the lead.
It is rather against the run of play, but they won’t mind. Advantage Scotland!
GOAL! Haiti 0-1 Scotland
02:31 , Arthur Ferridge
SCOTLAND LEAD! It’s McGinn - of course it is! Gannon-Doak draws a smart save from Placide and the rebound falls kindly for the Aston Villa man, who takes a touch and fires home via a deflection.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:30 , Arthur Ferridge
26mins: And we’re back underway following the hydration break.
Arthur Ferridge reports from the Boston Stadium
02:26 , Arthur Ferridge
Oh, to be a fly on the proverbial wall as Steve Clarke gives his hydration break team-talk.
Haiti were billed as something of an agent of chaos coming into this tournament. Lots of goals, with Isidor billed as the ‘erratic’ star man.
In reality, he has hardly seen the ball and the Grenadiers have enjoyed quite consistent possession. Scotland have had their chances, as have Haiti. Both sides seem to be lacking a clinical edge at the moment.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:25 , Arthur Ferridge
23mins: Hanley shoves his man to the ground in the six-yard box... or appears to, anyway. The referee leaves his whistle in his hand.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:20 , Arthur Ferridge
17mins: Off the post! Gannon-Doak drives goalwards but cannot sell his man. As McTominay crashes the box he receives a well-timed pass, and rattles the woodwork!
Haiti counter apace, and another nicely placed cross goes begging. Very positive signs from the Grenadiers, who are largely keeping their opposition pinned back here.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:18 , Arthur Ferridge
16mins: Big chance for Haiti! A sweet cross to the back post very nearly finds Pierrot, but for the well-timed intervention of Hendry. Scotland are lucky to get away with a goal kick from that.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:17 , Arthur Ferridge
14mins: Steve Clarke does not look overly impressed with the Scotland performance thus far. He is stalking the edge of his technical area with a brooding look to him.
Arthur Ferridge reports from the Boston Stadium
02:15 , Arthur Ferridge
McTominay looks off it in the early stages. A missed chance earlier on, and just now a missed pass allows Haiti a run at goal, from which they win a free-kick. You wonder if he may have been rushed back from that bad stomach.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:13 , Arthur Ferridge
11mins: Great chance for Haiti! The Caribbean side play an overhit through ball to the bylinut but Hickey makes a hash of showing it out. Pierrot is handed the chance to cross and does so smartly, but there is nobody in the middle to fire home.
Bellegarde shoots over from the edge of the box shortly thereafter.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:12 , Arthur Ferridge
10mins: A worry for Scotland as Ferguson goes down briefly with a knock, but he is straight back to his feet after taking a moment to collect himself.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:09 , Arthur Ferridge
7mins: A lovely first-time cross from Robertson meets the head of McTominay, who knocks it over the bar.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:08 , Arthur Ferridge
6mins: A first half-chance for Haiti comes from almost nothing as Louicius picks up the ball in the final third, strides goalwards and scuffs his shot wide of the mark.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:06 , Arthur Ferridge
4mins: A nice move down the right flank from Scotland as McGinn and Robertson combine nicely, but Shankland can’t do much with the chance he was presented.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:05 , Arthur Ferridge
3mins: McGinn goes down in the box and there are spirited penalty shouts from the crowd, but the referee is uninterested. Gannon-Doak then gets a first shot of the evening away, drawing a routine if probably unnecessary stop from Placide.
Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:04 , Arthur Ferridge
2mins: The Scotland support look ready to sing throughout this fixture. Not even two minutes on the clock and they’re already rolling through the greatest hits. No Scotland, no party indeed.
KICK OFF! Haiti 0-0 Scotland
02:02 , Arthur Ferridge
For the first time in 28 years, Scotland are playing World Cup football!
Arthur Ferridge reports from the Boston Stadium
01:58 , Arthur Ferridge
Genuinely moving to hear Haiti and Scotland belt out their national anthems there. Not a goosebump-less arm in the house as ‘Flower of Scotland’ rings out. They could probably hear that one in New York.
01:55 , Arthur Ferridge
Seeing it in the flesh, you really do realise just how long it takes to half-way round a pitch to the centre circle. Bit of a faff, this, thanks to the massive country flags taking up most of the grass.
Here we go...
01:49 , Arthur Ferridge
Fans in the Boston Stadium are being treated to a light show, which is always good.
Of course, it can only mean one thing - kick-off is nearly here!
Haiti's weak points
01:45 , Arthur Ferridge
If Scotland are to get through tonight, they must take advantage of Haiti’s less-than-watertight defence.
They conceded seven goals across their four qualifying fixtures, and the likes of McGinn and McTominay will hope to carve them open with relative ease.
Arthur Ferridge reports from the Boston Stadium
01:42 , Arthur Ferridge
The Boston Stadium has packed out very nicely and the atmosphere, unsurprisingly, is absolutely buzzing. The crowd is definitely leaning Scottish - it is majority orange, but flecked with some Haitian flags.
Haiti playing for peace
01:37 , Arthur Ferridge
Haiti is currently caught up in an ongoing conflict between organised crime gangs and the government, and the Greanadiers’ head coach Sebastian Minge hopes his side can improve perception of the country with their World Cup performances.
He said: “Our ambition is first and foremost to demonstrate to the world and the Haitian people that we deserve to be present at this event. Beyond the image we project, we will try to advance from the group because when you enter a competition, it’s to perform at your best.
“Qualifying would be fantastic. I hope that our services will allow people to talk about Haiti in positive terms, far from the image recently portrayed due to natural disasters or security instability.”
Party underway in Glasgow
01:32 , Arthur Ferridge
It’ll be a long night for the fans back home... but they don’t seem to mind it, do they?
Is it all on the line for Scotland tonight?
01:27 , Arthur Ferridge
In a few hours’ time, a fleet of 20 chartered mustard-yellow school buses will travel from Boston into Massachusetts suburbia, carrying a small army of kilted Scots to a football match nearly three decades in the making.
It is 28 years since Scotland’s most recent World Cup fixture - a 3-0 defeat by Morocco in Saint-Etienne - and their longest-ever hiatus from the sport’s greatest tournament is now over, at long last.
Scotland’s bar for success at this competition is clear. In eight previous finals, they have never managed to escape the group stage.
Heading into the expanded 2026 edition, where a third-place finish should be sufficient to see them through, that is the bare minimum.
But what can these passionate busloads of fans realistically expect from their side in the United States?
Click here to read Standard Sport’s assessment of their chances...
Elsewhere in Group C
01:18 , Arthur Ferridge
The opening fixture in Group C has ended honours even between Brazil and Morocco.
Ismael Saibari’s opener was cancelled out by a sweet free-kick from Vinicius Jr to ensure the points were shared.
That means that, provided we end up with a winner here in Boston, tonight’s victor will finish the night atop the group.
Steve Clarke: Scotland here to do something special
01:17 , Arthur Ferridge
"It's great to be here, but we also want to do something special.
"Obviously, we know the last two tournaments haven't gone the way that we wanted the tournament to go.
"We have another chance, and that's credit to the players that keep qualifying for these major tournaments.
"Anybody who speaks to me, tells me that they're grateful that the team has brought me here. I'm the same. I'm grateful that my team has brought me here."
And a look at Haiti
01:07 , Arthur Ferridge
Interestingly for Haiti, there is no Duckens Nazon. It is not absolutely clear where the nation’s all-time top goalscorer is tonight, or why he has not cracked the starting XI.
Isidor and Pierrot get the nod up top, then, with Wolves’ Bellegarde in behind.
Arthur Ferridge reports from the Boston Stadium
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:56 , Arthur Ferridge
One hour and five minutes to kick-off and Ted Lasso makes his first appearance on the big screen. I’m honestly surprised it took this long.
Arthur Ferridge reports
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:56 , Arthur Ferridge
Scotland’s Scott McKenna is currently being put through his paces in what appears to be a late fitness test.
It was thought he would miss this tie through injury, but it appears he may still be able to play a role here.
Unpacking the Scotland team
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:47 , Arthur Ferridge
Huge news for Scotland - Scott McTominay has shaken off a stomach bug to start tonight!
That is an indescribable boost for the Tartan Army, who can ill afford to lose a keystone midfielder.
Elsewhere, there are few surprises. Gannon-Doak will be one to keep an eye on as he lines up on the wings, while McGinn, as ever, should be pulling the strings.
Andy Robertson starts in the back line after he secured a free transfer to Tottenham during Scotland’s pre-tournament training camp.
HAITI CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:37 , Arthur Ferridge
Haiti XI: Placide, Arcus, Ade, Delcroix, Experience, Deedson, Jean Jacques, Bellegarde, Providence, Pierrot, Isidor
SCOTLAND CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:35 , Arthur Ferridge
Scotland XI: Gunn, Hickey, Robertson, McTominay, Hanley, McGinn, Adams, Hendry, Gannon-Doak, Ferguson, Shankland
Subs: Kelly, Gordon, Tierney, Fletcher, Dykes, Christie, Stewart, Souttar, Hyam, Hirst, Patterson, McLean, Ralston, Curtis, McKenna
Arthur Ferridge reports
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:33 , Arthur Ferridge
You won’t need me to tell you this, but it is baking hot here in Boston. The sun is slowly setting here, though, and the temperature should drop pretty promptly before kick-off.
Supporters are slowly filtering into the ground, and the atmosphere is quickly building ahead of kick-off.
The big question, of course, is whether Scott McTominay, Scotland’s talisman, will be fit to start after he was dealing with a stomach bug in the week. Team sheets will be released at quarter-to, so that question will have an answer bestowed upon it sooner rather than later.
Billy Gimour
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:25 , Arthur Ferridge
The injured Billy Gilmour has arrived at the Boston Stadium with the Scotland squad. That’s great to see.
Haiti vs Scotland prediction
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:24 , Arthur Ferridge
Haiti’s recent 4-0 win over New Zealand may have sent shivers down Scotland’s spine, but a 2-1 loss to Peru will assuage any Scottish fears of an upset.
With Scotland ranked almost 40 places above Haiti in the FIFA World Rankings, Steve Clarke should guide his team to a comfortable win and all but confirm their progression - should. Expect hellfire if they don’t.
Scotland to win 4-0.
Scotland early team news
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:16 , Arthur Ferridge
Scotland and Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour picked up a knee injury in a friendly win over Curaçao two weeks ago and was replaced in the squad by Man United youngster Tyler Fletcher - son of 80-cap former international Darren.
Fellow Napoli midfielder McTominay is expected to star, alongside John McGinn, who is fresh off May’s Europa League win with Aston Villa.
Defender Scott McKenna was absent from training this week, but his issue is not considered serious, while Andy Robertson’s move to Spurs may give him a pep in his step after a difficult season with Liverpool.
Scotland squad: Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly, Craig Gordon, Aaron Hickey, Andy Robertson, Grant Hanley, Kieran Tierney, Jack Hendry, John Souttar, Dominic Hyam, Nathan Patterson, Anthony Ralston, Scott McKenna, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Tyler Fletcher, Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, Kenny McLean, Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams, Ross Stewart, Ben Gannon-Doak, George Hirst, Lawrence Shankland, Findlay Curtis
Haiti early team news
Sunday 14 June 2026 00:08 , Arthur Ferridge
Haiti have no current injury concerns, but after seeing fellow Group C Morocco opponents suffer two tournament-ending injuries to players, will hope key men Bellegarde and Isidor remain fit and healthy.
Goalkeeper Johny Placide is a figurehead for the Haitians, but will be lucky to keep a clean sheet at this tournament.
Haiti squad: Josue Duverger, Alexandre Pierre, Johny Placide, Ricardo Ade, Carlens Arcus, Hannes Delcroix, Jean-Kevin Duverne, Martin Experience, Duke Lacroix, Wilguens Paugain, Keeto Thermoncy, Carl Fred Sainte, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Leverton Pierre, Danley Jean Jacques, Woodensky Pierre, Dominique Simon, Josue Casimir, Louicius Deedson, Derrick Etienne Jr., Yassin Fortune, Wilson Isidor, Lenny Joseph, Duckens Nazon, Frantzdy Pierrot, Ruben Providence.
How to watch Scotland vs Haiti
Saturday 13 June 2026 23:59 , Arthur Ferridge
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 1.10am BST on Sunday morning.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer or theBBC website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, featuring expert analysis from Arthur Ferridge at the ground.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with BBC iPlayer and their websites.
Hello and welcome
Saturday 13 June 2026 23:49 , Arthur Ferridge
Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Haiti vs Scotland at the World Cup!
The long-awaited day is finally here, and the opener is a must-win for both sides. Who will take the spoils?
All will be revealed! Kick-off is at 2am BST.
Allow the Standard to bring you all the latest, minute-by-minute from the press box at the Boston Stadium!
