Haiti v Scotland prediction, lineups & tips: World Cup 2026 Group C opener

Scotland carry the weight of 28 years of hurt into Gillette Stadium on Sunday morning, when they face Haiti in their opening fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is their first appearance at football's biggest tournament since France 1998, and Steve Clarke's side could not have asked for a more winnable opener on paper, but with Brazil and Morocco to follow in Group C, three points here are not optional, they are essential.

Clarke has guided Scotland to three consecutive major tournaments, but the World Cup is different territory. In eight previous appearances at the finals, Scotland have never advanced past the group stage, winning just four of 23 matches across those campaigns. In 12 attempts at major tournaments overall, World Cups and European Championships combined, they have never reached the knockout rounds. This is attempt thirteen.

The group draw handed them something close to a gift in this opener. Haiti are ranked 83rd in the world, 41 places below Scotland, and their only other World Cup was a bruising 1974 campaign in West Germany where they lost all three matches and conceded 14 goals. But Clarke himself has been quick to warn against any complacency. Speaking at the Sports Illustrated Stadium last week, the Scotland manager said of Haiti: "They were really good the other night. We've got a terrible habit, not just in Scotland, but in the UK in general, of looking at these nations and thinking they're not very good."

For Haiti, the significance of simply being here is enormous. Forward Frantzdy Pierrot told FIFA.com: "In Haiti, football means everything because it gives people hope, pride and a sense of unity." Sebastien Migne's side won six and drew two of their 10 CONCACAF qualifying fixtures to secure their place in the expanded 48-team tournament, doing so without a single home match on Haitian soil, every fixture in that campaign was played at a neutral venue due to the country's security crisis.

Scotland warmed up in style, thrashing Curacao 4-1 at Hampden before following that up with a 4-0 demolition of Bolivia in New Jersey, with Lawrence Shankland scoring and assisting and Ché Adams netting twice in the second game. Clarke declared he had "fantastic problems" with selection after those results. Haiti, meanwhile, beat New Zealand 4-0 before losing 2-1 to Peru, a defeat that came after they held the lead until the 81st minute.

This is the first ever meeting between the two sides, so there is no head-to-head record to lean on.

Scotland captain Andy Robertson addressed the media at Boston Stadium on Friday, and was careful not to look past Haiti. "It's a really difficult group; we've got three extremely hard games," Robertson said. "Haiti's warm-up games have been pretty impressive. They're really quick, really strong, aggressive, good on the counter-attack and really dangerous. We know we have to be at our best to win any game."

Haiti coach Sebastien Migne set out his ambitions when naming his squad, saying: "The first objective will, of course, be to try and secure our first point in the World Cup finals. But that would be too little motivation for my players, knowing them as I do. On our new roadmap, there's qualification for the round of 32."

Migne is expected to set up in a 4-4-2 shape, with Nazon and Pierrot the likely forward pairing. Bellegarde should anchor the midfield alongside Danley Jean Jacques, with Wilson Isidor, the Sunderland striker who recently switched international allegiance from France, operating wide. Leverton Pierre's absence weakens that midfield unit.

Clarke has selection headaches but his first-choice XI looks clear, with McTominay fit and Robertson captaining from left-back. McKenna's absence means Jack Hendry or John Souttar alongside Grant Hanley at centre-half. Ben Gannon-Doak, who missed the qualifying campaign, starts on the right.

Haiti: Placide; Arcus, Adé, Delcroix, Expérience; Casimir, Bellegarde, Jean Jacques, Providence; Nazon, Pierrot

Scotland: Gunn; Hickey, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson; Gannon-Doak, McTominay, Ferguson, Christie; Shankland, Dykes

Haiti v Scotland kicks off at 02:00 BST on Sunday 14 June 2026 at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts. The match is broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX in the United Kingdom. Scottish fans watching from home will need to set their alarms, or stay up very late.