Scotland defeats Haiti 1-0 in World Cup opener, tops Group C

Scotland picked up their first World Cup victory in 28 years on June 13, beating Haiti 1-0 in their Group C opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. John McGinn scored the only goal of the match in the 28th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide saved an initial effort from Che Adams.

The result puts Scotland top of Group C, a position few would have predicted given the group also contains Brazil and Morocco.

A long wait ends in Foxborough

The match took place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in front of roughly 64,000 fans. It was the first men’s World Cup match played in Foxborough since 1994, adding a layer of historical significance to an already meaningful occasion.

Scotland hadn’t won a World Cup match since 1998. They hadn’t even earned a single point in the tournament since 1990. For Haiti, the loss stings but the appearance itself is remarkable. The Caribbean nation hadn’t featured in a World Cup since 1974, making the 52-year gap between appearances one of the longest in tournament history. Ferencváros forward Lenny Joseph, who had scored in Haiti’s 4-0 pre-tournament friendly win over New Zealand, featured in the match but couldn’t find the net when it mattered most.

What lies ahead in Group C

Sitting atop the group after matchday one sounds impressive until you glance at the remaining fixtures. Scotland still have to face Brazil and Morocco, two teams with considerably deeper squads and far more World Cup pedigree.

For Haiti, the path forward now requires results against those same heavyweights, a tall order for a team making its first World Cup appearance in over half a century.

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