McGinn's deflected goal sends Scotland top of World Cup group in first win since 1990

Scotland claimed their first World Cup victory since 1990 with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Haiti in Boston, John McGinn’s deflected first-half goal enough to send Steve Clarke’s side to the top of Group C at the 2026 tournament.

McGinn’s strike — heavily deflected and set up by excellent work from Che Adams — arrived midway through a scrappy opening 45 minutes. It proved the only goal of the game, with Brazil and Morocco’s 1-1 draw earlier in the evening meaning Scotland finished the opening matchday in first place.

The result marks Scotland’s first win at a major tournament since Euro 1996 and their first at a World Cup since beating Sweden in Italia 90. It also ends a 28-year absence from the tournament itself, with the Scots last appearing at France 98.

For Haiti, the defeat was a painful one. Making only their second ever World Cup appearance — 52 years after their sole previous outing in 1974 — they matched Scotland for large stretches and pressed with intensity throughout. But a lack of cutting edge in the final third cost them, with Frantzdy Pierrot heading wide from an inch-perfect cross just five minutes from time in what proved the clearest chance of the match.

Scott McTominay had hit the post early on for Scotland, and Bournemouth winger Ben Gannon-Doak drew widespread praise for his performance on the right flank. The game sparked into life after the second-half drinks break, but neither side could add to the scoreline, with Clarke’s men holding firm through an extended period of stoppage time.

Former Scotland international Rachel Corsie captured the mood after the final whistle. “Absolutely milk it,” she said. “They’ll just appreciate all the fans that are enjoying this moment. That’s what we’ve always been about in Scotland — it’s about doing these moments together.”

Former Celtic midfielder Scott Brown echoed the sentiment. “It’s amazing for us. There’s fans in there that’s never seen Scotland at a World Cup, never mind seen us win a game. For them to pay the amount of money to go over there to enjoy it, and to share the special moment with the players — everybody throughout the nation deserves this.”