- Scotland have won three and lost two of their last five games, following up a 4-1 win over Curacao with a dominant 4-0 victory away to Bolivia.
- Haiti have won two, drawn one, and lost two of their last five, thumping New Zealand 4-0 before losing narrowly to Peru.
- Both teams have been involved in some high-scoring games recently, but Scotland have been much the more consistent and solid team.
Haiti and Scotland set for Group C battle
Haiti and Scotland will face off at Boston Stadium, USA, for a historic clash that will mark both nations' return to the world's biggest football competition in front of a lively local crowd and diaspora. The game promises to be a tactical battle between a Scotland team that probes with shape and discipline, and a Haiti side that counter-attacks at pace and is well organised when out of possession.
Scotland have been in fine form over their last two games, hammering Curacao 4-1 before dispatching Bolivia 4-0 in their final warm-up game for this tournament. Steve Clarke's men are a well-organised, tough to beat and versatile group that the manager has turned into a disciplined unit capable of adapting to the situation since taking charge in 2019.
Scotland's midfield engine, John McGinn, helps to push his side up the pitch at pace. Lawrence Shankland, who has scored four of Scotland's last 12 goals, will be the main threat up front and will be aided by the pace and energy of Kieran Tierney at wing-back, who can also hold the fort when Scotland are defending.
Haiti will try to outpace Scotland
Haiti will play a narrow and compact structure, hoping to use their pace and athleticism to get in behind their opponents when they win the ball. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is their midfield playmaker, while Duckens Nazon will be their most likely goalscorer on the counterattack.
Sébastien Migné has instilled a pragmatic style on the team since taking over as manager in March 2024. However, they have won four, drawn two, and lost four of their last ten in all competitions, which is an inconsistent run for a team with high aspirations.
Scotland have won six, drawn one, and lost three of their last ten in all competitions, so have had a better recent run than Haiti. Their recent performances have seen them score 8 and concede just 1, but their odds of 1.59 are probably short considering Haiti's home record of three wins, a draw, and two defeats from six matches.
Scotland have the edge
However, we're going for the Scots to take the three points in this Group C opener and continue their two-game winning streak. Scotland have scored an average of 2.00 goals per game in their last four away matches and conceded just 0.75, so they have the quality to break down Haiti's compact defence.
The game is likely to feature a few goals, but Scotland's ability to keep things tight should see them record a win without conceding. The odds for Over 2.5 goals (1.89) and Both Teams to Score - No (1.82) are attractive, but we're taking Scotland to break through on their return to the world's big stage.
