World Cup 2026: The world was watching Foxborough Saturday and witnessed a special night
· Yahoo Sports
FOXBOROUGH — I was standing on the concourse under the Patriots’ six Super Bowl banners at Gillette Stadium when the final pregame countdown for the first of seven World Cup games here reached zero.
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Not far away from me, two men, one in a blue Scotland jersey and another with a Haiti flag draped across his shoulders each put an arm around the other and posed for a quick selfie.
“We made it!” the Scot shouted. “We’re here.”
They hugged and then joined fans of their respective countries.
The fans of Scotland and Haiti naturally had opposite rooting interests in Saturday’s game, but in the bigger picture, they’re kindred spirits. Their years of soccer heartbreak have served as similar prologues to their parallel elation from qualifying this year.
Haiti's Hannes Delcroix as pictured coming downfield during a match at Gillette Stadium against Scotland on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Haiti's Frantzdy Pierrot as pictured during a game against Scotland at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Haiti's Louicious Deedson as pictured in a World Cup match against Scotland on Saturday, June 13, 2026 in Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
Haiti's Frantzdy Pierrot as pictured during a game against Scotland at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Haiti's Frantzdy Pierrot as pictured during a game against Scotland at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Haiti's Frantzdy Pierrot as pictured during a game against Scotland at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Haiti's Frantzdy Pierrot as pictured during a game against Scotland at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scotland's Ben Gannon-Doak defends an attack from Haiti's Ruben Providence during a World Cup match on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Haiti's Ricardo Adé clears a ball away from Scotland's Andy Robertson during a World Cup match on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Haiti's Wilson Isidor falls after an interaction with Scotland's Grant Hanley during a World Cup match on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Haiti's Ruben Providence questions a call during a World Cup match against Scotland on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Haiti's Frantzdy Pierrot as pictured during a game against Scotland at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Haiti's Ruben Providence attempts to fake out Scotland's Aaron Hickey during a World Cup match on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
Haiti's Ruben Providence crosses a ball during a World Cup match against Scotland on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Haiti's Frantzdy Pierrot as pictured during a game against Scotland at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Haiti's Jean-Ricner Bellegarde as pictured during a World Cup match against Scotland on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.
And as the game approached on Saturday, both appreciated being in Foxborough on the international stage for this moment.
It’s hard as an American sports fan to appreciate just how big this game — any game — in the World Cup really is globally.
FIFA reported that over 5 billion people tuned into the 2022 World Cup at one point or another and that 1.5 billion watched the final.
UK Sports Media brand Sporf reported that 1.42 billion people tuned into the Thursday’s World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa. Scotland vs. Haiti won’t reach the totals of the first or last game of a World Cup but the international viewership will assuredly reach hundreds of millions of people.
That’s a bigger viewing audience than any event ever in Massachusetts. More than the Knicks winning the NBA title a few hundred miles down I-95. More than the Seahawks beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl. More than the population of the United States.
The World Cup is broadcast in more than 30 languages, in all 24 time zones, and will be watched by millions on each of six continents. And there’s a pretty good chance the scientists at the station in Antarctica have the games on too.
As I turned toward the field to watch the opening minutes of what became a 1-0 win for Scotland, I pondered the sheer variety of people I was sharing this moment with.
This game was on in castles and in prisons, on commercial airplanes and navy ships, maternity wards and nursing homes. Fans watched in groups on big-screen TVs at watch parties and noisy pubs and quietly on their phones.
Pope Leo has been tweeting about the World Cup. Was he watching? It was 3 a.m. in Vatican City when it started, but he might have been up. How about Prince William? The Dalai Lama?
Whoever watched got a peek at our back yard. They saw Gillette’s signature lighthouse and the Patriots banners I was standing under. And they also saw a pretty tight game.
Fans from Finland to the Falkland Islands could feel Scotland’s joy explode on their screens when John McGinn scored to put Scotland ahead and saw Haiti’s hopes dashed when a late chance didn’t connect.
But the night was still a triumph for Haiti. Most of that country’s international attention has come from the poverty and crime that plagues it after a series of natural disasters. On Saturday, they reminded viewers of their strength.
The World Cup has plenty of warts, but at its best it can be inspirational.
The impact of moments from this tournament reverberates not only across miles, but time. They’re felt, not only halfway around the world but half a century later. On Friday, Haitian coach Sebastien Migne was asked in a pre-match press conference how a goal that Haiti scored in the 1974 World Cup could inspire his team.
Long after the players have moved on, their legacies are very much alive.
Perhaps 52 years from now, a reporter will ask whoever the Scottish coach is if John McGinn’s goal back in 2026 inspired the the 2078 team. Or maybe his goal and Sunday’s win will mark a surge in Scotland’s soccer success going forward.
McGinn wasn’t thinking that far ahead.
“Seeing all the kids going to the parks in a Scotland kit and painting their faces,” McGinn told the BBC. “Hopefully when kids get up tomorrow they’ll be beaming with pride because I am.”
After the game, the stadium played “Flower of Scotland” one more time as the kilted crowd celebrated. Many disappointed Haitians still clapped politely.
Then, as the two fan bases streamed out of the stadium together, one Scottish fan riding the high of victory and perhaps an abundance of overpriced stadium beer was high-fiving each of his countrymen that he passed. When he got to a pair of Haitian fans, he raised his hand and offered encouragement in their next game.
“Haiti,” he said in a thick accent and smiled when his gesture as accepted. “Now go beat Brazil.”
More World Cup 2026 Coverage
- What’s the World Cup like in Foxborough? Takeaways on a Scotland fans, traffic gridlock, food prices and more
- Frantzdy Pierrot starts for Haiti in World Cup at Gillette after growing up in Melrose
- World Cup 2026: Sights and sounds from Scotland’s win over Haiti at Gillette
- World Cup 2026: Scotland defeats Haiti in opening match at Gillette Stadium (photos)
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