Boston: Scotland made a winning return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence, defeating Haiti 1-0 in their Group C opener at Gillette Stadium. A deflected strike from captain John McGinn in the 29th minute proved to be the difference as Scotland secured all three points in front of a large and passionate Scottish crowd.

The victory marked Scotland’s first World Cup win since their 2-1 triumph over Sweden in 1990 and their first victory at a major international tournament since Euro 1996. Steve Clarke’s side controlled much of the game but had to withstand late pressure from a determined Haitian team.

The result puts Scotland at the top of Group C, ahead of crucial upcoming matches against Morocco and Brazil. Haiti, ranked 84th in the world, earned praise for reaching the tournament despite significant challenges faced by the country in recent years.