Haiti kick-off the third quarter second half.<\/p>\n
We go again. Photograph: Charlie Krupa\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.11 EDT<\/p>\n I thought this Scotland<\/a> kit would be universally loved. Not so. \u201cBut not a fan of the Scot\u2019s salmon kit. Mishmash of stripes of various widths and hues. Keep it simple. Brazil v Morocco was great in their classic kits.\u201d \u2013 Tim Smith<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the salmon colour, wouldn\u2019t chevrons be more appropriate than stripes?\u201d \u2013 Michael Fugate<\/p>\n \u201cNice as it is to see a run out for the salmon shirt, it really is nonsense that FIFA insist that the team drawn away wear their second strip even if there isn\u2019t a clash in their home colours. I can\u2019t imagine it helps for distinguishing between the teams, for instance if you were watching in black and white Scotland would appear in light grey now, against Haiti\u2019s white, rather than very dark grey if wearing their navy shirt. I\u2019m pretty sure the regional federations don\u2019t do this (England and the Netherlands both wore home colours in their Euro 2024 semi-final, for example). Is it another FIFA nod to commercialism so that kit manufacturers can get the different strips seen and sold?\u201d \u2013 David Wall<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Half-time mail. \u201cEven though I\u2019m not a huge NBA fan, I have to admit I\u2019ll be two-screening tonight. Probably watching football and listening to basketball. It just works better that way. The real question is whether Scotland<\/a> fans are staying up, or just getting up. Inquiring minds, and all that.\u201d \u2013 Joe Pearson<\/p>\n \u201cScotland struggling with Haiti\u2019s physicality? Surely not? The game\u2019s gone.\u201d \u2013 Trygve Lie<\/p>\n \u201cSo Haiti have a goalkeeper called Placide, and Experience at the back. Scotland might be undone by nominative determinism here, I fear.\u201d \u2013 Justin Kavanagh<\/p>\n \u201cBeen an entertaining first 45. Next goal will be key, and both teams look capable. If Scotland get it, we should be fine. Should. If Haiti equalise though…\u201d \u2013 Simon McMahon<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: Haiti 0-1 Scotland<\/p>\n Scotland lead through McGinn\u2019s goal but Haiti have had their moments.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+3 mins Haiti struggling to find the final pass. They do well to build up to the edge of the Scotland<\/a> box but an enticing ball across the top the area finds no one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 mins Four minutes added.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44 mins You can hear the referee counting down the time on throw-ins. This a rule change I can get onboard with.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 mins This is an entertaining watch. Scotland<\/a> looking to control things but Haiti carry a threat on the break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 39 mins Bellegarde goes into the book for a late lunge, it was a loose touch from that required the Haiti man to dive in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37 min Another good Haiti attack and this time it\u2019s Hickey who gets the crucial touch to stop Providence from getting a sot away after McGinn lost it to Bellegarde in midfield.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 mins Haiti should be level! Providence cuts in from the left and shoots, Gunn spills it into a dangerous area, requiring heroic stuff from Hendry to stop Isidor pouncing in the six yard box. Haiti still threatening here.<\/p>\n Wilson Isidor is lurking dangerously for Haiti. Photograph: Buda Mendes\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.46 EDT<\/p>\n Praise for Adams. \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to see \u2018Chel\u00e9\u2019 living up to his nickname with a touch worthy of the great Brazilian as he brought down that long ball!\u201d \u2013 Daniel Halladay<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 32 mins Shankland goes close! Gannon-Doak is giving his man the run around and puts in pinpoint cross that Shankland gets on to but flicks wide.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.37 EDT<\/p>\n Goal! Haiti 0-1 Scotland (McGinn 28)<\/p>\n Lift-off! Ch\u00e9 Adams runs in behind to stretch the Haiti defence and then nearly gets on the end of the low-centre from the right but who is there to take advantage, only John McGinn! It\u2019s not the cleanest strike but who cares, Scotland<\/a> top Group C as it stands.<\/p>\n John McGinn scores for Scotland! Photograph: Brian Snyder\/Reuters Photograph: Martin Rickett\/PA Photograph: Pilar Olivares\/ReutersThe fans go wild in the stands! Photograph: Patrick Smith\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.36 EDT<\/p>\n 27 mins Loud boos as Isidor hits the deck looking for a free-kick. Looking for it a bit too much, methinks.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The pic desk has put together a lovely gallery during the buildup to this game:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22 mins It\u2019s time for drinks.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fitba mail. \u201cJames Humphries with the most Scottish email ever. I mean, it\u2019s not like we have previous in opening World Cup<\/a> fixtures again so called \u2018minnows\u2019, is it? Expect the worst, hope for the best, right? Come on Scotland!\u201d \u2013 Fitba regular, Simon McMahon<\/p>\n Share<\/a> It\u2019s a veritable sea of salmon here.<\/p>\n Photograph: Mattia Ozbot\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.25 EDT<\/p>\n 17 min: McTominay hits the post!<\/p>\n Gannon-Doak cuts in from the right again and lays it back to McTominay on the edge of the box. His curling shot strikes the foot of the post with Placide was beaten.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16 min Chance for Wilson Isidor as he attacks a wicked cross from the Haiti left but Hendry does well to get his body across and wins a free-kick off the Sunderland frontman.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14 mins Drab end to that Haiti attack as Bellegarde\u2019s plan for the free-kick was seemingly misunderstood by his teammates and dribbles out of play harmlessly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13 min The last few minutes have been one-way traffic for Haiti. Scotland<\/a> can\u2019t get out and Ch\u00e9 Adams gives away a free-kick 35 yards out, quite straight. Bellegarde over it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11 min Haiti are pressing with real purpose when they get the chance. Having turned over the ball to win a throw-in, Wolves man Jean-Ricner Bellegarde fires over the bar from just outside the box. Not a clean strike.<\/p>\n Haiti are on top so far. Photograph: Mattia Ozbot\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.18 EDT<\/p>\n 10 min With the retro numbers and the Adidas trefoil that really is a lovely Scotland<\/a> kit.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7 min First look at goal for McTominay as he gets up highest to meet Andy Robertson\u2019s cross. The Napoli man is maybe too towering, the header goes well over the bar. A word for the lovely backheel from John McGinn in the buildup, too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min Louicius Deedson nicks the ball in midfield and carries upfield before scuffing a shot well wide. This will be the Haiti threat, you feel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 mins The noise when Scotland<\/a> get the ball in promising positions is incredible. Not much doubt who this crowd is cheering for.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min Scotland enjoying some early possession and Ben Gannon-Doak cuts in from the right and has his side\u2019s first effort, an easy one for Johny Placide in the Haitian goal.<\/p>\n Ben Gannon-Doak gets an early shot away for Scotland. Photograph: Mattia Ozbot\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.12 EDT<\/p>\n Peeeeeep!<\/p>\n Scotland get us underway in Foxborough and Jack Hendry kicks for touch giving Scotland<\/a> early territory. Nice bit of rugby.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n No two ways about it, Flower of Scotland<\/a> slaps.<\/p>\n Photograph: Pilar Olivares\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.00 EDT<\/p>\n Scotland in their change pink kit, which appears to be very popular in the stands too. More pink shirts than the Scots\u2019 traditional dark navy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The hype videos are hyping in Foxborough, I\u2019m not surprised that Boston Stadium looks packed. There\u2019s a large Haitian diaspora on the east coast of the US and Scotland<\/a> fans have travelled in big numbers. Anthems next.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Tamy Michel grew up watching her father run a football club through prison, political upheaval and the endless uncertainties of life in Haiti.<\/p>\n Solange Michel spent 18 years leading Baltimore SC, one of the country\u2019s most storied clubs. In the 1990s, he was jailed amid the turmoil that engulfed Haitian politics but the club survived. Later, Tamy Michel\u2019s aunt, Simone Desvarieux, took over. The family have been stewards of Haitian football since 1974.<\/p>\n Today, Michel represents players at the highest levels of the global game, from Ricardo Ad\u00e9, the defensive leader of the Ecuadorian powerhouse LDU Quito, to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Wilson Isidor, coming off Premier League seasons, and Haiti\u2019s record goalscorer, Duckens Nazon.<\/p>\n Read Bryan Armen Graham\u2019s profile of this Haiti team here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More mail. \u201cI mean, we could be top of the group, but as I immediately thought after the end of Brazil-Morocco, what if we\u2019re bottom?\u201d \u2013 James Humphries<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n While Fifa has taken a hands-off approach to trivial matters such as visas for tournament referees and the Iran delegation, it did see fit to get involved in the really big issue: Haiti\u2019s kit.<\/p>\n Haitian Football Federation has been made to find new jerseys on the eve of the 2026 World Cup<\/a>, after Fifa deemed certain elements to be too political in nature.<\/p>\n The point of contention resided on the shirt\u2019s right hip, which depicted silhouettes inspired by the Battle of Verti\u00e8res and the Haitian revolution. In 1803, revolutionary leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who later became the nation\u2019s first emperor, tore the white band off of a French flag to create a new flag for \u201cthe world\u2019s first free Black republic\u201d. The moment is commemorated throughout the nation every 18 May as Haitian Flag Day.<\/p>\n The iconography appears on all three of Haiti\u2019s shirts released by Saeta released ahead of the tournament, but has now been removed from the kits the players will wear during the tournament.<\/p>\n More on this story from Jeff Rueter:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.41 EDT<\/p>\n Ewan says there are still large numbers of fans outside Boston Stadium. Here\u2019s his view from inside the venue:<\/p>\n Scotland and Haiti fans queue outside Boston Stadium, with less than 45 minutes until kick-off. Photograph: Ewan Murray\/The GuardianShare<\/a> Sam Adams is the beer of Boston, named after a founding father of the United States who was the fourth governor of Massachusetts. Downtown, there\u2019s a tap room where you can drink it all day. On Thursday lunchtime the bar was packed, full of Scotland<\/a> fans, and hanging over the first-floor balcony was a big yellow flag. It bore the legend \u201cRemember Bannockburn 1314\u201d.<\/p>\n Of all the bases the Tartan Army could have found for their World Cup<\/a> journey, it had to be the city renowned for chasing the English out of town. Supporters dressed like William Wallace have been bonding with tour guides dressed as Paul Revere.<\/p>\n Others have been walking around wearing \u201cBoston T Party\u201d T-shirts, where the T stands for Tennent\u2019s. Meanwhile, next to the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Scottish Football Association has rebranded a local pub as Scotland House, and even had it sponsored by M&S Food.<\/p>\n Paul MacInnes has been spending some time with the Scotland fans in Boston:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pre-match postbag. \u201cI confess I was a wee bit worried after the first 10 minutes of the Brazil v Morocco game, because they were running about jolly quickly and firing balls into the net with great panache. The longer it\u2019s gone on though the more confident I feel. I suspect we\u2019ll confuse them by playing what they might think is a different sport\u201d \u2013 Scott Blair<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m English and living down under in Melbourne. We are actually getting a whole bunch of games at reasonable times as we normally have to watch intentional games at 2am. I\u2019m enjoying tea and toast over breakfast games and looking forward to hearing the Scots belt out Flower of Scotland<\/a>, always a spine tingling experience, even for and Englishman.\u201d \u2013 Simon Dobson<\/p>\n \u201cAll I can say is \u2018SHOOooooot\u2019 and we\u2019ll be bonnie.\u201d \u2013 Richard in the New Zealand sunshine.<\/p>\n Keep your emails coming via the link at the top of the page.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n That 1-1 draw between Morocco and Brazil means Scotland<\/a> can top of the group with a win against Haiti. If there wasn\u2019t already enough tension.<\/p>\n Get the live reaction to the Group C opener in New Jersey with Jeff Rueter:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Haiti\u2019s all-time record scorer Duckens Nazon maybe be familiar to fans of Wolves, Coventry City, Oldham Athletic and St Mirren, in addition to nine other clubs across two different continents, but probably not many others. Here\u2019s a quick crib sheet from our in-depth player guide<\/a>:<\/p>\n Player profile for Haiti\u2019s Duckens Nazon<\/a>Duckens Nazon player profileShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.06 EDT<\/p>\n Ewan has fired over his thoughts on the Scotland<\/a> team from his position at the Boston Stadium (in Foxborough):<\/p>\n One change to the Scotland team that beat Bolivia last week as John McGinn replaces Ryan Christie in midfield. Steve Clarke goes old school 4-4-2. Gunn; Hickey, Hanley, Hendry, Robertson; Gannon-Doak, McTominay, Ferguson, McGinn; Shankland, Adams.<\/p>\n Predictions were that Haitian fans would outnumber Scots inside the stadium but Scotland strips (the pink away one, mainly) dominate the scene so far.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Teams!<\/p>\n Haiti XI: Placide, Arcus, Ade, Delcroix, Experience, Deedson, Jean Jacques, Bellegarde, Providence, Pierrot, Isidor. Scotland XI: Gunn, Hickey, Hendry, Hanley, Robertson, Doak, McTominay, Ferguson, McGinn, Shankland, Adams. Share<\/a> It is not only ghosts from Costa Rica, Peru, Iran or Zaire that haunt Scotland as they prepare for a long-awaited World Cup<\/a> return. Instead, there is a broader pattern of failure that Steve Clarke and his class of 2026 need to extricate the nation from. From 23 games on football\u2019s biggest stage, the Scots have won only four times. The expansion of the World Cup should assist them, a team who now and correctly regard merely qualifying for major tournaments as insufficient.<\/p>\n Scotland were unbeaten in 1974 yet took an early path home from West Germany. More than 50 years later, a comfortable win over Haiti should be enough to seal progression to the last 32. It is impossible to shake the notion that Scotland\u2019s World Cup fate is dependent on game one in Boston against a side who lack nothing in national cause. Haiti\u2019s pace and physicality will cause some tartan tremors. Nonetheless, taking on the 83rd-ranked team in the world with history-making on the line is an appetising deal.<\/p>\n Read Ewan Murray\u2019s preview in full here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n How\u2019s your knowledge of Haiti? Share<\/a><\/p>\n I know it\u2019s very late in Scotland<\/a>, but if you are following along in the wee hours, do get in touch via the link at the top of the page.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n double quotation markDon\u2019t get humped!<\/p>\n That was the tongue-in-cheek response from Steve Clarke when asked about Scotland\u2019s lessons from their past tournament openers. The 5-1 defeat against Germany two years ago still stings, clearly.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously we know the last two tournaments haven\u2019t gone the way that we wanted them to go,\u201d added Clarke.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have another chance, and that\u2019s credit to the players that they keep qualifying for these major tournaments. It\u2019s great to be here, but we also want to do something special.\u201d<\/p>\n The other key theme from Clarke\u2019s pre-match press conference was the importance of Scott McTominay. Clarke joked about picking the Napoli man to play centre-half for Scotland previously and compared McTominay\u2019s now talismanic status to that which Gareth Bale shouldered for Wales. However, the former West Brom manager was keen to stress that Scotland are not a one-man team.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ve got 26 superstars here,\u201d said Clarke. \u201cI think to try and put so much onto one person isn\u2019t fair. We have built everything over the last seven years as a squad. That\u2019s everybody being together and everybody playing their part at certain times.<\/p>\n \u201cSome daft coach played Scott as a centre-half five years ago. But obviously he\u2019s not a centre-half. And since moving further forward he\u2019s done great for us.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, we\u2019re delighted with Scott\u2019s abilities and what he can bring to the team. But we\u2019re going to need another 15 to bring the same if we want to have a positive tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Back when Kenny McClean put the cherry on the cake of Scotland\u2019s dramatic playoff win against Denmark in November, the concept of this game was a cause for wild celebration, but now, facing World Cup<\/a> minnows Haiti, this game represents opportunity. A win, especially one by a convincing scoreline, will go a long way to ensuring Scotland get the group stage-shaped monkey off their back.<\/p>\n There will be nerves among the Tartan Army in Foxborough and those watching from afar, but the preparations for Steve Clarke\u2019s side have gone very well. Eight goals scored against in warmup games against Bolivia and Cura\u00e7ao, one conceded, crucially Scott McTominay has gotten over a tummy ache to ensure his manager has a full complement to choose from. McTominay\u2019s new advert with Adidas is also a triumph and these are the things that really matter in setting \u2018the vibe\u2019.<\/p>\n More seriously, the makeup of the forward line is the big pre-match question for Clarke. Lawrence Shankland has been in hot form and Ch\u00e9 Adams did well alongside the new Rangers striker against Bolivia. Given the opportunity against Haiti, fielding a similarly attacking side to the XI that started in New Jersey could be a risk worth taking.<\/p>\n Haiti impressed in their 4-0 against New Zealand but were less hot against Peru, losing 2-1. There chances rest on the ability of Sunderland\u2019s Wilson Isidor and their talisman Duckens Nazon to trouble the Scottish backline when they get a chance on the break.<\/p>\n Team news at 1am BST\/8pm EST\/10am AEST.<\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Paul_Macinnes.png\")
Paul MacInnes<\/p>\n![\"Bryan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781403131_226_Bryan-Armen-Graham,-L.png\")
Bryan Armen Graham\u2018We can do much\u2019: how feeling for family helped end Haiti\u2019s long World Cup absenceJean-Ricner Bellegarde, here attacking for Haiti against Peru in Miami earlier this month, has established himself at Wolves. Photograph: Leonardo Fernandez\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Ewan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Ewan_Murray,_L.png\")
Ewan Murray<\/p>\nPaul MacInnesTartan Army toast Scotland\u2019s World Cup return: \u2018It\u2019s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity\u2019Scotland fans outside the Cheers restaurant and pub in Boston. Photograph: Martin Rickett\/PA<\/p>\nEwan Murray<\/p>\n
Subs: Alexandre Pierre, Duverger, Thermoncy, Sainte, Etienne, Nazon, Lacroix, Metusala, Joseph, Fortune, Casimir, Duverne, Paugain, Simon, Woodensky Pierre.<\/p>\n
Subs: Kelly, Gordon, Tierney, Fletcher, Dykes, Christie, Stewart, Souttar, Hyam, Hirst, Patterson, McLean, Ralston, Curtis, McKenna.<\/p>\nEwan MurrayScotland bid to exorcise World Cup ghosts by breaking group stage barrierJohn McGinn insists there \u2018are no excuses\u2019 for Scotland at this year\u2019s World Cup. Photograph: Michael Zemanek\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
If you need a little bit of a brush up then I strongly recommend Pierre Richard Midy\u2019s team guide:<\/p>\n