Haiti makes World Cup return against Scotland

Haiti is making its second World Cup appearance.

MIAMI – The FIFA World Cup 2026 continues with Haiti set to end a nearly 52-year drought when it meets Scotland in Group C on Saturday, 9:00 PM ET (9:00 PM local), at Boston Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

This will be the first meeting between the two sides. Scotland also returns to the World Cup after a long absence, last appearing at France 1998.

Haiti is making its second World Cup appearance and first since its debut at West Germany 1974. Fans will keep an eye on the likes of Frantzdy Pierrot and Duckens Nazon as Les Grenadiers seek their first World Cup victory.

Scotland has been on the rise in Europe with players like Scott McTominay, who scored two goals and provided one assist in the UEFA Qualifiers.

Haiti vs Scotland – Facts

• This will be the first-ever meeting between Haiti and Scotland, and Haiti’s first match against an opponent from the British Isles.
• Scotland are winless in their last nine FIFA World Cup matches against teams from the Americas (D2 L7). That streak includes their only previous encounter with a Concacaf nation, a 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica at Italy 1990.
• Haiti are making just their second FIFA World Cup appearance, having previously competed in 1974. The 52-year gap between appearances is the joint fourth-longest in tournament history, behind Wales (64 years between 1958 and 2022), Egypt (56 years between 1934 and 1990), and Norway (56 years between 1938 and 1994).
• During their only previous World Cup campaign in 1974, Haiti conceded 14 goals. That remains the second-highest total ever allowed by a team in a group stage, surpassed only by Korea Republic’s 16 goals conceded in 1954.
• Among teams that played 10 matches in Concacaf qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, only Bermuda (31) and Nicaragua (16) conceded more goals than Haiti (13). Haiti also recorded the third-highest expected goals against (xGA) total, allowing 11.7 expected goals.
• Scotland return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998, ending a 28-year absence from the global finals. They also topped a UEFA World Cup qualifying group for the first time since 1982.
• Scotland have lost each of their last three FIFA World Cup opening matches. Their most recent opening-game victory came in 1982, when they defeated New Zealand 5-2.
• Scotland have never advanced beyond the first round in any of their previous eight FIFA World Cup appearances, more than any other nation that has yet to reach the knockout stage. In fact, including UEFA European Championships, Scotland have failed to progress beyond the opening round in all 12 of their appearances at major international tournaments.
• Scotland qualified as winners of UEFA Group C, finishing ahead of Denmark. Among all qualified UEFA teams, they recorded the second-lowest goal difference (+6; 13 goals scored, 7 conceded), ahead of only Sweden, and also posted the second-lowest expected goals difference (+0.8).
• Haiti striker Duckens Nazon finished as the joint-leading scorer in Concacaf qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with six goals. His tally included a hat-trick after coming off the bench against Costa Rica. Nazon also led all players in total shots (34) and touches inside the opposition penalty area (59).
• Scott McTominay was directly involved in more goals than any other Scotland player during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scoring two goals and providing one assist. He was also one of only three players to start all six of Scotland’s qualifying matches, alongside John McGinn and Andy Robertson.
• Steve Clarke will become the first head coach to lead Scotland at three major international tournaments: UEFA EURO 2020, UEFA EURO 2024, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.