Scotland v Belarus 2026 FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifier 12/10/2025. Group C Andy Robertson 3 - Scotland during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Scotland and Belarus at Hampden Park, Glasgow, United Kingdom on 12 October 2025. Editorial use only , Copyright: xRaymondxDaviesx PSI-23024-0049
Scotland captain Andy Robertson says his side has taken a significant step toward becoming the first Scotland team ever to reach the knockout phase of a major tournament.
Steve Clarke’s men secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Haiti in their Group C opener in Boston, with John McGinn’s first-half strike proving the difference.
The result sent Scotland to the top of their group after Brazil could only manage a draw with Morocco in New Jersey.
Robertson acknowledged the performance was not perfect but insisted the three points were all that truly mattered from the opening fixture.
“We got the result and togetherness that we wanted,” he said, speaking after the final whistle in Boston.
He admitted areas where Scotland fell short, saying “could we have been better on the ball? Yeah. Could we maybe have defended higher up the pitch at times? Maybe.”
But the skipper was quick to point out that winning when the country expects you to win deserves its own recognition.
“When everyone in the country expects you to win, you have to get credit when you do win,” Robertson said, reflecting on the weight of expectation surrounding the Haiti clash.
The Liverpool defender also confirmed the squad is not hiding from the magnitude of what this Scotland generation could achieve, saying “none of the lads are shying away from it – we want to be the first Scotland team to make history.”
Robertson added that the next two fixtures could come with less pressure, noting that the upcoming opponents are “two fantastic teams” but that Scotland “have done pretty well against the bigger nations.”
Young winger Ben Gannon-Doak drew particular praise from Robertson after playing a major role in the buildup to McGinn’s decisive goal.
Robertson, who played alongside the Bournemouth player at Liverpool, described him as a rare and exciting talent within Scottish football.
“He’s lightning quick, he can take a player on, he can make something happen in the game,” Robertson said of the young winger.
Robertson also noted that Gannon-Doak’s willingness to listen to senior players sets him apart, saying “he’s such a talent, a good player and such a good guy because he listens to all of us.”
Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, and Lewis Ferguson also earned specific praise from Robertson for their defensive solidity throughout the contest.
Scotland were forced to defend their own penalty area in the closing stages but ultimately kept a clean sheet that Robertson credited to the entire team’s collective defensive discipline.
“Defensively, the team were really strong. Sometimes we made wrong decisions with the ball but we were all good defensively and that’s why we got the clean sheet,” he said.
Clarke’s side now sit at the top of Group C, with momentum and belief building ahead of what promises to be a defining chapter in Scottish football history.
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