World Cup 2026: What history tells us about Scotland's openers

There is evidence to suggest why Scotland fans are heading into a World Cup opener against an 83rd-ranked nation with an equal sense of trepidation and excitement.

Just say the names of Costa Rica or Peru and you will see a shudder go down the spine of any experienced member of the Tartan Army.

With Sunday's (02:00 BST) encounter with Haiti ending a 28-year absence from football's grandest stage, BBC Scotland has been digging through the archives.

So what does history tell us about the Scots' World Cup curtain-raisers?

Scotland would have to wait until 1974 for their first victory at a World Cup, never mind one in the opening game, after winless tournaments in 1954 and 1958.

Goals from Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan ensured a 2-0 success over minnows Zaire in West Germany - a result the Tartan Army would certainly sign up for this weekend.

But it was a scoreline Willie Ormond's men ultimately went on to regret. Draws with Brazil and Yugoslavia meant Scotland failed to progress on goal difference.

An unbeaten three-game sequence of one win and two draws would almost guarantee qualification for the knockouts under the more favourable current-day format. Not back then, though.

"In hindsight we should have tried to score more goals," said former Leeds and Manchester United striker Jordan.

"Looking at the big picture, it was a mistake. There was a bit of naivety in it. If that game had been our second or third, the scoreline might have been a little different."

Four years later, manager Ally McLeod had the nation believing Scotland would win the 1978 World Cup.

A squad loaded with top-level quality travelled to Argentina with almost 60 individual medals in its ranks - from champions of Scotland and England to European Cup and Uefa Cup winners.

But next to no research was done on the opposition, with McLeod infamously turning down an offer of an all-expenses-paid scouting trip to Peru.

The Peruvians beat Scotland 3-1 in their opening game in Cordoba, contributing to another early exit as a subsequent draw with Iran and memorable victory over the Netherlands were not enough.

Another squad of immense quality went to Spain in 1982 under Jock Stein, but again goal difference was their undoing.

Scotland took care of bottom seeds New Zealand in their opener in Seville, with goals from Sir Kenny Dalglish, John Robertson, Steve Archibald and a John Wark double.

It was the two they conceded that proved crucial, when combined with a heavy 4-1 defeat to Brazil and draw with the Soviet Union.

Again, a repeat of those results in the United States this month would very likely be enough for the Scots to make a historic progression to the knockouts, but the World Cup format was far more unforgiving in the past.

Four years on and it was Sir Alex Ferguson who led the nation to Mexico. It was home time at the first hurdle again, though.

Denmark, one of the best sides in Europe, awaited them in match one. Scotland were left to rue their profligacy as Preben Elkjaer Larsen's goal gave the Danes victory, before a defeat to West Germany and a draw with Uruguay followed.

"I always thought the first game was the one," said goalkeeper Alan Rough. "We had to take something, especially with West Germany next."

It was the Brazilians they would face in their next World Cup outing, opening the 1998 World Cup in France.

Against a star-studded side, the Scots drew level through John Collins' penalty, but a slapstick own goal from Tom Boyd denied Craig Brown's men a precious point.

A draw with Norway and a 3-0 defeat to Morocco came next.

Of course, Brazil and Morocco feature in Scotland's 2026 World Cup group, 28 years on from their last showing on football's grandest stage.

Steve Clarke will hope it is not a case of deja vu. But first, there is an opportunity to make a mark against Haiti.

The Tartan Army have been scarred by past failures against favourable opposition, but cautious optimism is building that perhaps this time could be different.

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