Haiti falls 1-0 to Scotland in World Cup opener, faces uphill battle in Group C

BOSTON, Mass. — Haiti bowed down to Scotland 1-0 in its opening game in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at a soldout Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 13. The game against Scotland was Haiti’s best chance on paper to rack up its first World Cup victory since the European nation was Les Grenadiers’ weakest opponent in the group stage. 

Haiti had a slow start and the fans failed to energize the team as they timidly cheered, some said. Meanwhile, the Scots chanted and roared when their players penetrated Haiti’s defensive third or made a tackle.

“I feel like we’re not motivating the team enough,” Christie Mérismé, of Massachusetts, said at halftime. “I feel like we’re not getting our voices together.”

Scotland midfielder John McGinn opened the scoring in the 28th minute, blasting a loose ball into the net from the 18-yard box.

Haiti’s game versus Scotland was considered a “must-win” for Les Grenadiers in order to have a high chance to move the knockout round since the remaining encounters are difficult games against powerhouses Brazil and Morocco. Consequently, the loss left an aching feeling in the air in the Haitian American community.

“They [Scotland] were the team for us to beat in our group,” Carl Clermond, an entrepreneur who traveled from Port-au-Prince to the U.S. to attend the game, said. “This really breaks my heart. We lost to the team we should’ve defeated.”

Over in New Jersey, Stephanie Clervoyant-Noel, commissioner for the Elizabeth Board of Education, is still keeping her head high despite the loss.

“I’m a little bit disappointed, but I’m still holding on to faith because we haven’t been here in a while,” said Clervoyant-Noel, who attended The Haitian Times official watch party in New Jersey during halftime. “There were several opportunities where they could have scored but didn’t. Scotland should have never gotten that point.”

The Haitian players struggled to make accurate final passes, which heavily limited their chance to equalize. Players often overhit their passes when they charged down Scotland’s half.

Haiti now sits in last place in its group with zero points, while Scotland is on top with three points. Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in the other encounter in Group C and are now in second and third place respectively.

Haiti’s next game will be against Brazil on June 19 at Philadelphia Stadium at 8:30 p.m. ET. Haitian fans hope Les Grenadiers will score against Brazil or even pull out an unexpected win. 

“I’m still hoping for things to turn around against Brazil,” Clermond, 50s, said. “I think we can surprise this Brazilian team.”

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