Haiti v Scotland — Our World Cup Finals Opener Preview

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The Celtic Star

·11 dicembre 2025

Haiti v Scotland — Our World Cup Finals Opener Preview

Haiti v Scotland — World Cup Finals, Group C, Boston, USA…

Kieran Tierney celebrates after scoring for Scotland against Denmark to take Scotland to the World Cup Finals! Photo – Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Saturday 13 June 2026 — “Boston Stadium” (Gillette Stadium), 21:00 local / 02:00 BST

After a 28-year wait to return to the World Cup finals, Scotland begin their 2026 campaign in Boston against Haiti — an opponent the Tartan Army should not underestimate after a stirring qualification story. But pundits including of course UK sportsbooks at NonStopCasino, insist Scotland “must beat Haiti” if they’re to have a realistic shot of progressing from a group that also contains Morocco and Brazil, with most believing that the matches get progressively tougher for the Scots.

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Lyndon Dykes and Andy Robertson of Scotland celebrate after the team’s victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park on November 18, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

FIFA will stage the match at Gillette Stadium (branded for the tournament as “Boston Stadium”), which will host several group games in 2026. You can expect a lively atmosphere with a large Scottish support travelling across the Atlantic and a passionate Haitian contingent from New England’s large diaspora.

Haiti’s qualification – the first since West Germany in 1974 – was one of the feel-good stories of the CONCACAF phase: a side that has dealt with off-field turmoil, displacement and the practical problem of being unable to play home qualifiers on the island nonetheless finished top of their qualifying group. Their coach, Sébastien Migné, has forged a compact unit of players mostly employed overseas and rallied them to historic qualification. That collective spirit is Haiti’s greatest asset.

Odsonne Edouard of Celtic celebrates scoring to give them a 3-2 lead. theRangers v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Ibrox, 11 March 2018 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Haiti’s squad contains a number of professionals plying their trade abroad (several with French football pedigrees), and the federation has been active in exploring additional call-ups to bolster attacking options — a sign they will not be overawed on the big stage. Indeed today former Celtic and Crystal Palace striker Odsonne Edouard has been linked with an opportunity to switch allegiances and experience playing at World Cup Finals with Haiti.

Tactically, Scotland can expect Haiti to sit relatively deep and seek to strike quickly on the break or from dead-ball situations; they are unlikely to cede the game entirely but will attempt to stay compact and punish any defensive naivety.

Scotland fans wrapped in a USA flag celebrate victory and qualification after the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park on November 18, 2025. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

While organised, Haiti lack the sustained top-level match-experience of many European nations and can be stretched by teams that dominate possession and press intelligently. Playing all “home” matches away from Haiti during qualifying also points to practical limits in their preparation infrastructure. Dependence on overseas-based players means injuries, travel and club commitments can be disruptive; depth beyond the first XI is an area Scotland can exploit if they keep the tempo high.

Pundits and former players have been blunt: this is the match Scotland must win if they are to advance. That doesn’t mean it will be straightforward. Scotland will want to control midfield, silence Haiti’s counter-threat, and be clinical from set pieces — where smaller margins often decide openers in big tournaments. A composed start without complacency will be vital.

It’s a must-win match for both nations but as far as Scotland is concerned Steve Clarke will know that it is absolutely vital for Scotland to win an opening match at the World Cup for the first time since Spain 1982.

Brazil will be favourites to beat Morocco and get their own campaign off to a good start. Next up for the World Cup’s most successful nation is Haiti and that should be no more tan a formality to secure Brazil’s qualification, meaning that their final group match against Scotland will be one where players are rested and squad players get their chance. That could suit Steve Clarke perfectly.

It’s hard to see Haiti taking anything from this group so the Scotland v Morocco match, which will also be played in Boston could be the decisive one for the Scots who will arrive at the World Cup Final after getting the better of Denmark in that never to be forgotten 4-2 win at Hampden Park on November.

If the draw is relatively tough for Scotland the fixtures have worked out perfectly and Scotland should they get the win against Haiti go in to the Morocco game which will effectively be a winner takes all. A draw against Morocco could see Scotland regretting a low score win over Haiti with Morocco going into their final match against Haiti knowing exactly the score that would be needed to elevate Scotland, as they’d assume Brazil will win that one too.

1974 World Cup – First Round, Group Two: Scotland 2 Zaire 0 14 06 1974 Scotland team group, Mannschaftsbild, Totale – back row l-r. David Harvey, Jim Holton, Joe Jordan, Danny McGrain,John Blackley. front – Kenny Dalglish , Sandy Jardine, Peter Lorimer, Billy Bremner,David Hay and Denis law at Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, West Germany. Photo IMAGO / Colorsport

Before Scotland consider these implications the crucial thing is to win and if they go 2-0 up, unlike against Zaire in West Germany 1974, Scotland must push for goals all the way to the final whistle. Going out on goal difference would be particularly frustrating for the huge Tartan Army heading to Boston and Miami.