Scotland beats Haiti 1-0 as only 2 of 7 European teams win in World Cup

Scotland just did something they haven’t done in 36 years: win a World Cup match. John McGinn’s deflected strike in the 28th minute was enough to beat Haiti 1-0 in Group C, giving the Scots their first tournament victory since 1990. And somehow, that makes Scotland one of the continent’s overachievers right now.

Only two of seven European teams have managed to win a game so far in the 2026 World Cup.

McGinn’s moment in Foxborough

The match was played at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on June 13. McGinn’s shot in the 28th minute took a deflection on its way to the net.

Scotland hadn’t even qualified for the World Cup since 1998. That’s a 28-year absence from the biggest stage in football. The victory puts Scotland at the top of Group C. In the expanded 48-team format of this tournament, every point matters, and Scotland have three of them.

Europe’s rough start

When only two out of seven European sides manage to win their opening fixtures, something unusual is happening. The expanded tournament format has ballooned from 32 to 48 teams.

What this means for the tournament

For Scotland specifically, sitting atop Group C after matchday one gives Scotland a platform they haven’t had in international tournament football for as long as most of their squad has been alive.

Five of seven European teams losing or drawing their openers is a rough start. Scotland is one of only two European teams that doesn’t need to worry about that conversation.

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