World Cup preview: Haiti vs. Scotland an intriguing battle of underdogs

BOSTON — For Haiti and Scotland, any hope of advancing from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup requires getting some kind of positive result from their opening clash at Boston Stadium on Saturday night.

Most of the oxygen in Group C is already being taken up by Brazil, quadrennial heavyweights and five-time champions, and Morocco, semifinalists four years ago and still formidable with a freshly stacked roster. It helps that with the World Cup’s expansion to 48 teams, the top eight third-place finishers also advance to the round of 32.

But on paper, the Scottish and Haitians, 41st and 83rd in the FIFA World Rankings, respectively, are supposed to be distant threats to their peers from South America and north Africa. So in some ways, Saturday night is an ideal scenario: while the apparent frontrunners beat each other up, the underdogs can jockey for position between themselves.

That said, giving deference to the favorites before a ball is kicked does not mean permission to underestimate other competitors. No World Cup team should be overlooked, whether underdog or powerhouse, debutant or familiar face.

True: Haiti is playing in its first World Cup since 1974, has never made it out of the group stage, and is the second lowest-ranked team in this year’s tournament. But this leaves out Les Grenadiers’ technical savvy and resilience. To get here, the Haitians beat out recent World Cup entrants Costa Rica and Honduras, as well as Nicaragua, despite not playing a single qualification game on home soil due to the political upheaval in their nation.

Haiti brings 17 European-based players to this tournament, and nine play on first division clubs. And while results haven’t always followed, Haiti has a history of pushing bigger teams. Just ask the U.S. men’s national team, which needed a late goal to salvage a 2-2 tie against the Haitians at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup before narrowly beating them in the same tournament six years later.

Both those games were played at Gillette Stadium in front of large crowds of Haiti supporters. The same venue, called Boston Stadium for the duration of the World Cup, could see high numbers of Haiti fans again, owing to Massachusetts having the third-largest Haitian community in the U.S.

On the flipside, the Tartan Army is expected to show up to back its beloved Scottish national team, which is making its ninth World Cup appearance. Like Haiti, Scotland has also never made it out of the group stage.

The Scottish roster might fare well in the English Premier League – though to be fair, it does include 12 EPL players. Among these is  Liverpool left back Andrew Robertson, who serves as Scotland’s captain. Another eight players represent teams in the Scottish Premiership. Italian clubs have the third-best representation on the roster, with midfield general Scott McTominay of Napoli, winger Lewis Ferguson of Bologna, and Torino striker Che Adams providing leadership, skill and flair.

Coach Steve Clarke played for Chelsea and has had Scotland on the up since taking over management of the senior national team in 2019. He’s qualified Scotland for the last two UEFA European Championship after a 24-year hiatus, and now they’re back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Clarke knows this is a must-win for Scotland. But he will likely be prepared for the challenge Haiti represents as the less favored team with everything to gain, especially since his Scottish players have been no stranger to the underdog role themselves.

Though absent from the World Cup for nearly three decades, Scotland has enough experience and tactical superiority to overcome the Haitians. Look for McTominay to serve as Scotland’s midfield engine, anchoring transitions and supporting the attack. Adams is the roster’s leading scorer, with 13 goals.

As a unit, Scotland’s defenders have an average age of 29.9. The back line will have to be wary of Haiti’s technique, counter and offensive weapons. Chief among these is Frantzdy Pierrot, the Melrose High graduate and former Northeastern Husky who now plays for Caykur Rizespor in the Turkish topflight and has recorded 34 goals for his country. Trying to neutralize McTominay and quelling the Scottish on the edges of the penalty area will be Haiti’s best chance defensively.

Even with a clear group hierarchy, forecasting exact results is a fool’s errand. That said, a win – or to a much less extent, a draw – will be invaluable. At minimum, a positive result gets either side off the block and builds momentum early in the tournament. Under the best circumstances, it will provide an edge going into the second round of group games. Not to mention pride, radiating from Foxboro all the way to Glasgow or Port-au-Prince.