Na for Boston Stadium for Foxborough, Massachusetts, Haiti and Scotland go face for Group C opener of 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both nations don suffer long time without seeing World Cup action – Haiti last appear for 1974, Scotland for 1998.
Haiti come back after 52 years wey dem no play for World Cup. Na di joint-fourth-longest gap for tournament history, after Wales (64 years), Egypt (56 years) and Norway (56 years). Dem top CONCACAF qualification group, beat Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras. Duckens Nazon lead Haiti with six goals for qualifiers, including hat-trick against Costa Rica as substitute. Nazon also get more shots (34) and touches inside opponent box (59) than any other player for CONCACAF campaign.
Wilson Isidor, wey switch from France, score two goals for Haiti since March – one against Iceland for 1-1 draw, another for 2-1 defeat to Peru. Haiti also beat New Zealand 4-0 for Fort Lauderdale, but goals dey fly for both ends for recent matches. Scotland no win for last nine World Cup matches against Americas teams (L7), including 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica for 1990.
Scotland dey appear for first World Cup since 1998, end 28-year absence after topping UEFA group for first time since 1982. Dem don feature for 12 major tournaments but never pass group stage – na all-time record. Steve Clarke qualify Scotland for three of last four major tournaments, more than any other head coach for 154-year history. Dem beat Denmark 4-2 for final matchday at Hampden Park, with Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean score stoppage-time goals.
For warm-up, Scotland beat Curaçao 4-1 and Bolivia 4-0. Lawrence Shankland and Ché Adams score brace each for those friendlies. Scott McTominay, Napoli midfielder, score 13 goals for Scotland since 2023 for competitive matches, at least eight more than anyone else. For World Cup qualifying, McTominy get two goals and one assist, start all six matches alongside John McGinn and Andy Robertson.
Haiti and Scotland never meet before for any match. Na first time Haiti go play against team from British Isles. Scotland only play CONCACAF nations like Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago and Curaçao, wey dem beat 4-1 for friendly last month.
