John McGinn's goal gives Scotland victory over Haiti in World Cup opener
14 sources • 4 min read • Latest: Jun 14, 2026, 2:11 PM
Last updated Jun 14, 2026
Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in their World Cup Group C match on June 13, 2026, at Gillette Stadium. John McGinn scored the only goal of the match in the 28th minute, marking Scotland's first victory in the World Cup since 1990. The Scots, returning to the tournament for the first time since 1998, now sit atop Group C after Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw earlier in the day. Haiti, making their World Cup return after 52 years, struggled to convert opportunities and seek a point in their quest for history.
- •Scotland topped Group C with 3 points after the win.
- •Haiti has yet to earn a point in World Cup history.
- •Next, Scotland faces Morocco, and Haiti plays Brazil.
- 2:11 PMYahoo Sports — Match-winner McGinn: Scotland have ‘more gears to go up’ at World Cup
- 5:48 AMYahoo Sports — McGinn eyes 'uncharted territory' after Scotland end wait for World Cup win
- 5:23 AMYahoo Sports — Haiti v Scotland: McGinn the Hero as Tartan Army Celebrate First World Cup Win Since 1990
- 4:32 AMESPN Soccer — Scotland beat Haiti for 1st WC win in 36 years
- 4:06 AMBBC Sport — McGinn fires Scotland to first World Cup win for 36 years
- 3:42 AMYahoo Sports — Scotland mark World Cup return with 1-0 win over Haiti
- 3:26 AMYahoo Sports — World Cup: Scotland top Group C after scrappy win over Haiti
- 3:25 AMThe Guardian Sport — Scotland victorious on World Cup return after McGinn strike helps clinch win over Haiti
"This all proved rather difficult to evaluate as the dust settled. Scotland’s fifth win at a World Cup finals should have been a cause for epic celebration. Victory over Haiti meant this is a team not guaranteed to receive a bloody nose against lesser nations after all. More than 10,000 days after limping out of the World Cup in France, Scotland returned to the biggest stage in football and claimed three points. They top Group C. Yet in the Boston Stadium, the counter narrative was more than a feeling. With Morocco and Brazil to come, this single goal success may prove insufficient as Scotland look to emerge from the group phase for the first time. This regressed into an unconvincing display from Steve Clarke’s team. Haiti lacked the composure to punish that. Still, those who would blindly celebrate Scotland’s win are probably ignoring a bigger picture that should matter. John McGinn’s goal, a sclaff in Scottish terminology, summed up much that was to come thereafter. Scotland must now cling on in their next two outings. Continue reading...
"A scrappy finish by John McGinn allowed Scotland to mark their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over outsiders Haiti on Saturday.They have travelled to the United States in large numbers to follow Scotland's first World Cup campaign since 1998, and were able to celebrate a rare victory at the tournament as they go top of Group C. It is Scotland's first win at a World Cup since a 2-1 defeat of Sweden in Italy in 1990, and a first victory at any major tournament
"Scotland match-winner John McGinn is optimistic his team can go on to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the very first time after marking their return to the tournament following a 28-year absence with a 1-0 win over Haiti on Saturday.We know the qualities they possess but we can cause them problems in the same way Haiti caused us," said McGinn of Morocco and Brazil, who drew 1-1 earlier Saturday in New Jersey.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 14, 2026, 2:11 PMMatch-winner McGinn: Scotland have ‘more gears to go up’ at World Cup
John McGinn insists Scotland have “more gears to go up” after his goal against battling Haiti secured his nation their first World Cup finals win since 1990. On their return to the big stage after a 28-year absence, Steve Clarke’s side scraped past the Caribbean minnows thanks to the Aston Villa midfielder’s deflected goal in the 28th minute at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Saturday night.
- Yahoo SportsJun 14, 2026, 5:48 AMMcGinn eyes 'uncharted territory' after Scotland end wait for World Cup win
Scotland match-winner John McGinn is optimistic his team can go on to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the very first time after marking their return to the tournament following a 28-year absence with a 1-0 win over Haiti on Saturday.We know the qualities they possess but we can cause them problems in the same way Haiti caused us," said McGinn of Morocco and Brazil, who drew 1-1 earlier Saturday in New Jersey.
- Yahoo SportsJun 14, 2026, 5:23 AMHaiti v Scotland: McGinn the Hero as Tartan Army Celebrate First World Cup Win Since 1990
McGinn Fires Scotland to the Top of Group C John McGinn’s deflected first-half goal proved the difference as Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 at Gillette Stadium, earning Steve Clarke’s side their first World Cup victory in 36 years and sending the Tartan Army into raptures roughly 30 miles outside Boston. With Brazil and Morocco drawing 1-1…
- ESPN SoccerJun 14, 2026, 4:32 AMScotland beat Haiti for 1st WC win in 36 years
John McGinn deflected a shot off an opposing defender and past goalkeeper Johny Placide in the 28th minute, and Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in Group C of the World Cup on Saturday.
- BBC SportJun 14, 2026, 4:06 AMMcGinn fires Scotland to first World Cup win for 36 years
John McGinn's goal was enough as Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 at the Boston Stadium to record their first win at a World Cup for 36 years.
- Yahoo SportsJun 14, 2026, 3:42 AMScotland mark World Cup return with 1-0 win over Haiti
Scotland moved top of Group C in their long-awaited return to the World Cup with a nervy 1-0 win over Haiti in Foxborough. In the Scots' first game on the big stage since 1998, midfielder John McGinn fired them ahead in Boston with a deflected strike after 28 minutes, although Steve Clarke's side lived dangerously at times.
- Yahoo SportsJun 14, 2026, 3:26 AMWorld Cup: Scotland top Group C after scrappy win over Haiti
Scotland narrowly beat Haiti in the first World Cup game for both nations in the 21st century. The Tartan Army returned to the big stage for the first time since 1998, while Haiti’s solitary World C...
- The Guardian SportJun 14, 2026, 3:25 AMScotland victorious on World Cup return after McGinn strike helps clinch win over Haiti
This all proved rather difficult to evaluate as the dust settled. Scotland’s fifth win at a World Cup finals should have been a cause for epic celebration. Victory over Haiti meant this is a team not guaranteed to receive a bloody nose against lesser nations after all. More than 10,000 days after limping out of the World Cup in France, Scotland returned to the biggest stage in football and claimed three points. They top Group C. Yet in the Boston Stadium, the counter narrative was more than a feeling. With Morocco and Brazil to come, this single goal success may prove insufficient as Scotland look to emerge from the group phase for the first time. This regressed into an unconvincing display from Steve Clarke’s team. Haiti lacked the composure to punish that. Still, those who would blindly celebrate Scotland’s win are probably ignoring a bigger picture that should matter. John McGinn’s goal, a sclaff in Scottish terminology, summed up much that was to come thereafter. Scotland must now cling on in their next two outings. Continue reading...
- Yahoo SportsJun 14, 2026, 3:23 AMScotland beat Haiti 1–0 to mark a winning return to the World Cup
John McGinn’s deflected goal gives the Scots a World Cup win for the first time since 1990.
- Yahoo SportsJun 14, 2026, 3:11 AMMcGinn gives Scotland win over Haiti on World Cup return
A scrappy finish by John McGinn allowed Scotland to mark their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over outsiders Haiti on Saturday.They have travelled to the United States in large numbers to follow Scotland's first World Cup campaign since 1998, and were able to celebrate a rare victory at the tournament as they go top of Group C. It is Scotland's first win at a World Cup since a 2-1 defeat of Sweden in Italy in 1990, and a first victory at any major tournament
- Yahoo SportsJun 14, 2026, 3:05 AMHaiti 0-1 Scotland: McGinn’s strike earns first victory for 36 years on World Cup return
John McGinn etched himself into Scotland history by scoring the winner against Haiti in his country’s first World Cup triumph for 36 years at the Boston Stadium.The Aston Villa and national team cap...
- Sky Sports—McGinn strike beats Haiti as Scotland enjoy dream World Cup return
John McGinn scored Scotland's first World Cup goal for 28 years to ensure a winning start in Group C.
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