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John McGinn’s late goal gives Scotland their first World Cup win since 1990.
Updated on 14 Jun 2026
John McGinn’s superb finish allowed Scotland to mark their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a 1-0 victory over Haiti.
Aston Villa captain McGinn fired home an assist from a breakaway just before the half-hour mark at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston, which was packed with 64,000 people and many Scotland fans.
They have traveled to the United States in large numbers following Scotland’s first World Cup campaign since 1998 and were able to celebrate an unprecedented victory in the competition as they topped Group C.
This is Scotland’s first World Cup win since Sweden’s 2-1 loss to Italy in 1990, and their first win at any major tournament in 30 years, since Euro 96.
Steve Clarke’s side are bidding to make history by reaching the knockout stage, something Scotland have never done at a World Cup.
They will have to wait in frustration at the end, but the victory will see them through to the last 32, especially if the eight best third-placed players go through from the group stage.
Haiti are one of the lowest-ranked sides in the tournament, ranked 84th in the world, and Scotland knew the importance of beating the Caribbean nation with a tough test ahead.
They play Morocco at the same stadium in their next game on Friday before traveling to Miami to face Brazil. Morocco and Brazil drew 1-1 Saturday’s Group C meet in New Jersey.
Haiti’s success in reaching the World Cup is one of the most encouraging stories of the tournament, given the turmoil in the country, which prevented the team from playing qualifying matches at home.
Their squad included midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and striker Wilson Isidor, both of whom played in the English Premier League this season.
But there is great depth in the Scotland side, in the form of McGinn, captain Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay.
The Napoli midfielder, who scored in Denmark’s record-breaking victory that sealed qualification, was fit to start the game with a stomach bug.
McTominay almost gave Scotland’s salmon pink side the lead in the 17th minute, when he got to the edge of the area to knock down a shot from Ben Gannon-Doak.
Haiti began to grow as a threat as Scotland took the lead on 28 minutes.
Che Adams stretched the opposition before Gannon-Doak’s ball fell to McGinn, and his shot found the net through the outstretched leg of Bellegarde.
They were unable to build on that, as Haiti forced them back and increased the pressure in the final as they sought to avoid defeat at the World Cup for the first time.
French-born Ruben Providence was a threat on the wing, and midfielder Frantzdy Pierrot came close to equalizing in the 85th minute, but his towering header went wide.
Haiti, who lost all three games in their previous World Cup in 1974, now face Brazil in Philadelphia.
