World Cup

Haiti vs Scotland World Cup 2026 prediction

Scotland will be making their first World Cup appearance since 1998 on Saturday morning when they face Haiti in Boston, Massachusetts, whom themselves are making only their second-ever World Cup appearance, having lost all three games in 1974.

Steve Clarke’s side qualified for USA-Mexico-Canada by winning a group that included Denmark, Greece and Belarus. They won three out of three at home and took four points from a possible nine on the road. They will of course be on the road for all of their games in this tournament.

Scotland hold the World Cup record for most appearances without ever making it out of the group stage – seven in total. Their last in 1998 saw them lose to Brazil and Morocco, and drawing with Norway. Interestingly, they have the two former teams in this tournament too. They have won just four of their previous 24 appearances in World Cups.

Whilst you can expect defensive performances versus Morocco and Brazil, we have to expect Scotland to try to take the game to Haiti in their opener. Three points could be enough to progress to the knockout stages as 8 of the 12 best third-place teams make it. This is surely the best opportunity for those three points.

Torino’s Che Adams can produce long range goals and runs into the box, whilst English Championship side’s Charlton Athletic’s Lyndon Dykes is a target option. John McGinn and Scott McTominay are goalscoring threats from central midfield, whilst Ryan Christie offers pace and a bit of flair down the wings.

Haiti are one of the few countries I don’t have a whole host of knowledge on entering the tournament. They were disappointing in last summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup in USA-Canada where they took just one point from three group games – losing 1-2 to USA and 0-1 and drawing 1-1 with Trinidad & Tobago in between.

38-year-old goalkeeper Johny Placide plays for SC Bastia whom were relegated from the French Ligue 2 this past season. Right-back Carlens Arcus plays in France’s Ligue 1 with Angers. Midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, Danley Jean Jacques in the MLS with the Philadelphia Union, Louicius Deedson with FC Dallas, and striker Wilson Isidor in the Premier League with Sunderland.

The odds on Scotland winning aren’t as short as I was expecting. Are Haiti better than I expecting? Not ideal that this is a 2am kickoff for me but I am very confident in my tip on this one.

Best bet: Scotland to win is 3/5 with Bet365