Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 to mark a winning return to the World Cup

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 14 Jun 2026 A scrappy finish by John McGinn allowed Scotland to mark their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over outsiders Haiti. Aston Villa captain McGinn fired in with the aid of a deflection just before the half-hour mark at the Gillette Stadium just outside Boston, which was filled to its 64,000 capacity with a majority of Scottish fans. They have travelled to the United States in large numbers to follow Scotland’s first World Cup campaign since 1998 and were able to celebrate a rare victory at the tournament as they go top of Group C. It is Scotland’s first win at a World Cup since a 2-1 defeat of Sweden in Italy in 1990, and their first victory at any major tournament in 30 years, since Euro 96. Steve Clarke’s team are bidding to make history by reaching the knockout stages, something Scotland have never done at the World Cup. They had to hang on grimly at the end, but the victory puts them on course to get to the last 32, especially as t...

Billy Gilmour on his new Italian job with Scott McTominay at Napoli

BILLY Gilmour has expressed confidence that playing alongside Scott McTominay at Napoli on a weekly basis will help him to improve as a footballer and benefit Scotland in future as he looked forward to starting the latest chapter of his career over in Italy.

Gilmour and McTominay spearheaded the spirited second half fightback which the national team staged during their opening Nations League match against Poland at a packed Hampden on Thursday evening.

The former made it 2-1 shortly after half-time when he scored his first goal at the Mount Florida venue while the latter levelled the Group A1 encounter when he netted with 14 minutes of regulation time remaining.

The duo's endeavours ultimately proved in vain - the penalty that Nicola Zalewski netted in the seventh minute of injury-time after he had been needlessly brought down by Grant Hanley meant the visitors won 3-2. 

It was a desperately disappointing end to a game which Scotland, seeking to get the pain of the Euro 2024 finals in Germany this summer out of their system, could and really should have taken something from. ​

However, the displays of Gilmour and McTominay, who both struggled to perform to the high level they are capable of back in June, in the middle of the park were hugely positive.

The Scots joined Serie A giants Napoli in the final days of the transfer window last month and the former Rangers, Chelsea and Brighton man is eagerly anticipating playing abroad with his compatriot in the months ahead.

“I'm excited,” he said. “It’s new challenge, a new culture. I'm looking forward to that. I've just got beaten with Scotland so it's a bit disappointing and hard to think about that right now.

“But it will definitely help me with Scott being out there too. Scott is a good mate. So both of us out there can hopefully try to progress and get better.

 “I spoke to a couple of the boys who are over in Italy. We've got some in the squad here as well so I spoke to them. They said it's a very good league and I'm looking forward to it. As I say, I'm excited.”

Gilmour formed a new Scotland central midfield partnership with Kenny McLean against Poland as manager Steve Clarke switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation and enjoyed the experience.

He fully expects his former Norwich City team mate to establish himself as a regular starter there now that Celtic captain Callum McGregor has retired from international football. 

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