After nearly three decades away from the World Cup stage, Scotland delivered one of the most nerve-shredding opening performances imaginable — a narrow 1-0 victory over Haiti at Boston Stadium that left the Tartan Army lurching between ecstasy and dread for most of 90 minutes.

A carnival before kick-off

Hours before the evening kick-off, convoys of yellow school buses crawled along the I-95, with Scotland supporters hanging out of every window — singing, waving flags, and celebrating at barely a mile an hour. The mood in Boston was electric. Clusters of fans occupied every street corner, a wave of colour and noise that felt as much like a homecoming as an away trip.

Inside Boston Stadium, the atmosphere reached another level entirely. Giant screens behind both goals captured every shiver and tear among the supporters as Flower of Scotland rang out across the arena with a power that felt, if anything, even greater on foreign soil than it does at home.

McGinn's deflected goal proves enough

Scotland began with energy but gradually lost their grip on the match. Haiti, ranked 83rd in the world, grew into the game and were — for long stretches — the better side. A Scottish goal was desperately needed.

It arrived in the 32nd minute, when John McGinn drove forward and struck a shot that found the Haiti net via a double deflection. It was not the cleanest finish, and nobody pretended otherwise. What it was, however, was Scotland's first World Cup goal in a generation — by that measure alone, a moment of pure beauty.

The goal lifted the Tartan Army, but Scotland never truly pulled away. Their key players — McGinn, Scott McTominay, and Billy Gilmour, who missed the match through injury — failed to impose themselves. McTominay's most notable contribution was a shot that rattled the post. Scotland's standout performer was, surprisingly, Ben Gannon-Doak.

Haiti push for an equaliser

With 12 minutes remaining, Scotland were holding on rather than commanding. The Tartan Army, showing the dark humour that defines them, struck up a chorus of 'No Scotland, No Party' — an ironic anthem for what had become an ordeal rather than a celebration.

Frantzdy Pierrot came close to equalising when he rose above Grant Hanley and headed just wide. The Scotland bench and supporters alike held their breath. Pierrot had another chance and missed again. At one point, Andy Robertson cleared the ball as though his career depended on it — which, in the moment, it very nearly did.

The final whistle brought scenes of enormous relief rather than pure triumph. Goalkeeper Angus Gunn captured the mood precisely: