Scotland v Belarus 2026 FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifiers Andy Robertson of Scotland during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Group C match at Hampden Park, Glasgow UK Newspapers OUT Copyright: xFredxPalmerx FIL-22351-0159
Haiti winger Derrick Etienne Jr has declared his side are ready to cause a seismic upset when they face Scotland in their World Cup Group C opener in Boston.
The Toronto FC forward says his squad are motivated not just by football but by a desire to reshape how the world perceives their troubled homeland.
Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince remains gripped by civil unrest, with armed drug gangs controlling an estimated 90 percent of the city, painting a bleak picture for international audiences.
The scale of instability forced Haiti to play all of their World Cup qualification matches outside the Republic, unable to host a single home game throughout the entire campaign.
Yet the passion of their supporters remains undimmed, with around 20,000 fans filling a stadium in Miami last week to cheer a friendly victory against New Zealand.
Etienne Jr said: “We want to make everyone proud. But we also want to try and change the narrative of how people see Haiti. That’s one of the things that’s really important to us.”
The 29-year-old acknowledged the emotional weight his squad carries into every match but insists they have the maturity to channel those feelings productively on the pitch.
He said: “We have a mature group, we have a confident group, and I believe we can channel that energy in the right way. We can use it as an extra tool to motivate us.”
Haiti are appearing at their first-ever World Cup and are widely considered the weakest side in Group C alongside Scotland, Morocco, and Brazil.
Alongside Etienne Jr, the squad includes Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor, giving them at least some recognisable European football pedigree heading into the tournament.
Etienne Jr was defiant when discussing how the football world has framed Haiti’s presence at the tournament, dismissing suggestions their qualification was a fluke or a stroke of luck.
He said: “The rest of the world will probably say it’s an exception, us qualifying for the World Cup. Or that it was luck, a fluke. But this group can definitely show that it was more than that.”
Haiti face Steve Clarke’s Scotland side first, and Etienne Jr has been doing his homework, singling out Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay as the most dangerous threat they must contain.
He said: “McTominay is going to be a problem because of the top player he is. He showed his quality at Manchester United and is now showing it even more at Napoli.”
Etienne Jr acknowledged that Scotland, under Sebastian Migne’s tactical rival Clarke, are a disciplined and well-organised outfit who will not give Haiti an easy route into the game.
He said: “I expect Scotland to be a very difficult game. They are a compact and disciplined team. They are a really well-drilled team who will be difficult for us to break down.”
Despite those challenges, Etienne Jr believes Haiti’s athleticism could prove to be a genuine problem for the Scots if his side execute their defensive shape effectively.
He said: “If we are disciplined defensively, I think our athleticism will give them problems. We have to understand the strengths of other teams to try and nullify that.”
The fans, Etienne Jr insists, will play a crucial role in lifting the squad, with Haiti supporters expected to pack the stands and bring the same electric atmosphere seen in Fort Lauderdale.
He said: “The fans are our 12th man. They’re going to have a party in the stands,” adding that their backing gives the squad real belief heading onto the biggest stage in football.
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