John McGinn’s deflected first-half strike gave Scotland their first World Cup victory since 1990 and their first goal at the finals since 1998, as the Tartan Army held off a late Haitian surge.
Scotland secured their first World Cup victory in 36 years on Sunday, defeating Haiti 1-0 at Gillette Stadium in Boston behind John McGinn’s deflected first-half strike that also ended the nation’s 28-year goal drought at the finals.
McGinn found the net in the 28th minute, with his shot taking a deflection that left the Haitian goalkeeper stranded. The goal marked Scotland’s first at a World Cup since 1998 and secured their first win since 1990. Grant Hanley provided the assist.
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Scotland could have taken an earlier lead when Scott McTominay’s curling effort crashed off the right post. Young forward Ben Gannon-Doak was widely praised as Scotland’s chief creative threat, constantly alarming the Haitian backline with his blistering pace.
Haiti refused to fade and put massive pressure on the Tartan Army late in the second half. Star forward Frantzdy Pierrot had a golden opportunity to equalise, but his header flashed narrowly wide of Angus Gunn’s post. Haiti finished with 13 shots, three on target, matching Scotland’s three on target from eight attempts. Possession was evenly split at 50 percent each.
Scotland accumulated three yellow cards through Hickey, Curtis and McLean, while Haiti received one. The match marked the first-ever senior international meeting between the two nations, though both had previously participated in the 1974 World Cup, which before this tournament stood as Haiti’s only previous appearance at the finals.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, the result leaves Scotland top of Group C with three points, while Haiti sit at the bottom. Morocco and Brazil, who drew 1-1 on Saturday, are level on one point each. Scotland will look to build on their historic win when they face their remaining group opponents, while Haiti must regroup to keep their knockout hopes alive.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 14, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
