Our best bets for Scotland's opening game of the 2026 World Cup include victory for Steve Clarke's side and John Souttar to catch the eye.
Scotland play their first match at the World Cup finals for 28 years when the Tartan Army take on Haiti in Foxborough in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Steve Clarke’s men look to have a real chance of making out of a group containing Brazil and Morocco and the opening contest against Haiti may shape how their tournament progresses.
Haiti v Scotland Bet Builder Tips
Tartan Army can see off Haiti
Scotland have been drawn alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti in Group C of the 2026 World Cup and the Tartan Army have the ability to make the knockout stages.
Clarke’s side qualified for the North America festival of football by outpointing Denmark and Greece, which rates strong form in the context of a tie with Haiti.
The Grenadiers only won three of their six qualifiers against Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
It’s worth remembering that the three strongest CONCACAF sides, USA, Mexico and Canada, were not involved in the qualifiers and that further weakens the form of Sebastien Migne’s men.
Billy Gilmour’s injury was a blow to Scotland, but they still have Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn and Lewis Ferguson so there is certainly quality in the Tartan Army’s squad.
Clarke’s men hammered a depleted Bolivia 4-0 in New Jersey on Saturday when they managed an impressive 20 efforts on goal in the friendly.
That should set them up nicely for the contest with Haiti.
Leg 1: Scotland to win @ 8/15
Count the corners
Set-pieces will offer Scotland a key avenue to success at the World Cup and the corner count could rise in the contest with Haiti.
The Tartan Army took six corners in the 4-0 victory over Bolivia on Saturday and there were eight when they beat Curacao 4-1 previously.
Ben Gannon-Doak and McGinn are good options in wide areas and they are flanked by forward-thinking full-backs Aaron Hickey and Robertson.
Haiti spent much of Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Peru trying to put crosses into the box for Wilson Isidor and over 8.5 corners looks likely in this clash.
Leg 2: Over 8.5 corners @ 4/6
Souttar can shine
Haiti conceded two goals to Peru on Saturday, with both coming from corners. Renzo Garces stepped in after Haiti keeper Johny Placide unconvincingly punched Fabio Gruber’s header away to score, before Jairo Velez lashed home from a poor clearance.
Scotland centre-back Souttar is not an obvious goalscoring threat, but the Rangers man is excellent in the air and could pose Haiti problems from set-plays.
Souttar managed 16 efforts on goal in an injury-hit Scottish Premiership season and the 29-year-old was at an average of 1.33 efforts on goal per 90 minutes in the Europa League this term.
The Rangers defender can have at least one shot on target in Foxborough.
Leg 3: John Souttar +1 shot on target @ 7/2
