2026 World Cup: Scotland defeats Haiti 1-0 in their return match

For their return to the World Cup, 28 years later, Scotland dominated Haiti (1-0) without margin, on Saturday in Foxborough, and take the lead in Group C of the 2026 World Cup before facing Morocco and Brazil.

John McGinn, the Aston Villa midfielder, pounced on a rebound from Che Adams after a cross from the lively Ben Gannon-Doak on the right, to open the scoring with a bit of luck and deliver the Gilette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots, mostly populated by supporters in kilts (1-0, 28th).

Delivering, because Haiti, ranked 80th in the FIFA rankings, 40 places behind their opponent that evening, never presented themselves as sacrificial lambs. They even created several dangerous situations in front of Angus Gunn's goal throughout the match, and particularly towards the end, thanks to their quick transitions.

Scott McTominay's Tartan Army, who hit the post in the first half (17th minute), nevertheless secured their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence thanks to better collective control.

In this 48-nation World Cup, with this opening victory, she can even consider getting out of her group and playing in the knockout stage, a first for her in nine World Cup appearances.

Before that, they will have to face the two heavyweights of the group, Morocco and Brazil, who were unable to break the deadlock earlier on Saturday (1-1), in East Rutherford, a suburb of New York.

Scotland will face the Atlas Lions next Friday, again at Gilette Stadium near Boston, then Brazil on June 24 in Miami; the reverse schedule for Haiti who will challenge the Seleção on Friday, also, but in Philadelphia before Morocco on June 24 in Atlanta.

Returning 52 years after their first participation in a World Cup in 1974 - where they lost all three of their matches - the "Grenadiers" will have two mountains to climb to hope to win their first point in a World Cup, one of their ambitions in the competition.

The other, that of being "a great showcase for Haiti", gripped by chaos, according to the wish of their French coach Sébastien Migné, has already been fulfilled.