Haiti and Scotland begin their 2026 World Cup journeys on Sunday in Massachusetts, clashing at Boston Stadium in a Group C curtain-raiser that features two returning nations eager to make their mark. Both are considered underdogs in a section featuring five-time winners Brazil and reigning AFCON champions Morocco.
With such formidable opposition, securing points from this opening fixture could prove crucial to each team's prospects in the competition.
The bookmakers are backing the Tartan Army to claim victory, with Sky Bet offering 8/13 on Scotland, while Haiti is priced at 5/1 with Paddy Power and a stalemate is available at 3/1 with Ladbrokes.
Haiti's Return to the Finals
Haiti are back at the finals following a 52-year absence, hoping to better their 1974 showing, when they suffered three defeats and shipped 14 goals. Their qualification this time came via the expanded 48-nation format, recording six victories and two draws from 10 CONCACAF qualifiers.
They navigated two group stages before confirming their place with consecutive wins against Costa Rica and Nicaragua in November 2025.
Away from the pitch, conditions have been challenging. Security concerns at home forced all of Haiti's designated home matches to be played in Curaçao, while head coach Sébastien Migné is believed not to have visited the nation since assuming the role 18 months ago.
Sitting 83rd in the rankings and the tournament's second-lowest ranked side, the Grenadiers arrived at the 2026 competition with patchy friendly form: a loss to Tunisia, a stalemate with Iceland, and an impressive 4-0 thrashing of New Zealand. A 2-1 reverse against Peru in their final preparation match adds uncertainty, making Sunday's clash feel crucial to any ambitions of progressing beyond the group stage for the first time.
Scotland's World Cup Journey
This marks Scotland's ninth World Cup appearance. Destiny has reunited them with Brazil and Morocco - the identical opponents who contributed to their bottom-place finish in the group at France 1998.
Steve Clarke's side secured qualification in thrilling fashion, topping their UEFA group thanks to a 4-2 victory over Denmark in which late strikes from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean transformed the contest, with McLean netting from the halfway line.
Following friendly losses to Japan and Ivory Coast in March, Scotland bounced back emphatically, scoring four against both Curaçao and Bolivia. Another four-goal showing on Sunday would represent their first sequence since 1928-29 of three consecutive wins with a minimum of four goals in each match.
This will be the maiden encounter between Scotland and Haiti. With Brazil and Morocco on the horizon, the Tartan Army will view this as a must-win fixture to ignite an uncommon extended campaign.
The venue at Boston Stadium provides an energetic backdrop for two nations keen to grab early impetus.
Haiti vs Scotland Prediction
- Scotland to win to nil - 7/5 (Paddy Power)
- Over 2.5 goals for Scotland - 9/4 (Sky Bet)
- Scott McTominay to score anytime - 2/1 (Ladbrokes)
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Haiti vs Scotland Team News
Haiti have a clean bill of health and may persist with the 4-4-2 formation deployed in their previous two friendlies. Skipper Johny Placide is anticipated between the posts, with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde poised to feature and Wilson Isidor expected to partner record goalscorer Duckens Nazon (44 goals) in attack.
Scotland are missing Billy Gilmour (knee), while Scott McTominay is a slight doubt having sat out training through illness. John McGinn should be involved in a 4-4-2 system, Lawrence Shankland is fancied to lead the line, and Angus Gunn appears the more probable selection ahead of Craig Gordon between the sticks.
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