Haiti fall 0-1 to Scotland in World Cup return after 52 years

Les Grenadiers made their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup on Saturday, June 13, falling 1-0 to Scotland at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before an announced crowd of 46,146. John McGinn broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, converting off a rebound to give Scotland their first World Cup win in 36 years.

Haiti were far from disgraced. The Grenadiers finished the match with 15 shots, generating genuine pressure throughout the second half. Wilson Isidor and Ruben Providence both tested Scotland early, while Jean-Ricner Bellegarde — yellow-carded in the 39th minute for serious foul play — drove much of Haiti's midfield energy. Frantzdy Pierrot came closest to an equalizer with a header that drew gasps from the Haitian-heavy section of the stands.

The result leaves Haiti with zero points in Group C. Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in the day's earlier match, meaning Scotland lead the group on three points. For Haiti to advance, they will need results in their remaining fixtures: Brazil on June 19 in Philadelphia and Morocco on June 24 in Atlanta.

Fox Sports analyst Zlatan Ibrahimović offered an eyebrow-raising immediate verdict post-match, saying Haiti were "more impressive than Scotland" despite the loss — a comment that resonated widely with the Haitian diaspora online.