Scotland are set to play Haiti in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C opener on June 13 in Boston, marking their first World Cup appearance since 1998 [1, 2, 3, 4].
Head coach Steve Clarke, who has led Scotland since 2019 and secured their qualification, named Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams as forwards, Scott McTominay and John McGinn in midfield, and Angus Gunn as goalkeeper for today’s match [2, 4]. Clarke confirmed McTominay has recovered from a stomach bug and will play, but defender Scott McKenna is sidelined with a calf injury [1, 3].
Scotland enter the tournament ranked 41st by FIFA, well ahead of Haiti’s 83rd-ranked side coached by Sebastien Migne. Haiti’s squad includes Premier League players Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Wilson Isidor [1, 2, 3, 4].
Historically, Scotland have struggled in World Cups, with just 4 wins in 23 games and no victory since 1990 [5]. They also suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to Germany in the Euro 2024 opener, prompting concerns about poor tournament starts [1, 3, 5]. Clarke stressed the need to avoid repeated mistakes: "Don't get humped," he told the team in a press conference yesterday [1]. He described his own approach as calm and measured, quietly influencing the team and Scottish football [6].
Captain Andy Robertson called this squad "the most quality we've had in a Scotland squad for a long time," voicing determination to leave past regrets behind [1]. Midfielder Kenny McLean noted, "We had that amazing night six months ago but that is gone," underlining the team's focus on today’s challenge [5].
Scotland will kick off their World Cup campaign with today’s match against Haiti in Boston. The team aims to improve on past tournament performances and secure a positive start to the competition.
