Scotland enter the World Cup confident that they can handle the heat and their Group C opener against Haiti, with John McGinn convinced the squad have the fitness and mentality to thrive as temperatures rise at Boston Stadium in their first finals appearance since 1998.

The fixture against Haiti on Sunday is also the first meeting between the nations at international level, and comes after a strong run of friendly results that has helped Steve Clarke’s players adjust to conditions across the United States ahead of the tournament.

Clarke’s side spent last week in Fort Lauderdale, using the intense humidity to prepare for conditions expected during the World Cup, before travelling north to New York where Scotland defeated Bolivia 4-0 on Saturday in a result that further boosted confidence before the Haiti match.

All four goals against Bolivia came before half-time, marking the first time since a qualifier against Gibraltar in March 2015 that Scotland scored four times in the opening 45 minutes of an international, underlining an attacking edge that the team hope to carry into Group C.

Before flying to North America, Scotland also scored four against World Cup debutants Curacao, a match shaped by Jurgen Locadia’s red card in the 38th minute, and the back-to-back four-goal victories suggest the squad arrive at the finals with rhythm in attack and belief in the game plan.

The recent preparation programme, which combined heat acclimatisation with high-scoring friendlies, is central to Scotland’s strategy as the squad look to progress beyond the group stage of a World Cup for the first time, having previously fallen at the initial phase in all eight past appearances.

Scotland World Cup experience and Steve Clarke’s record

Clarke is now the first head coach to guide Scotland to three major tournaments, after leading campaigns at the European Championships in 2020 and 2024, achievements that provide continuity and experience as the team attempt to finally move beyond the group phase at a global finals.

Those previous tournaments ended in group-stage exits, and McGinn accepts that several senior players, including McGinn, did not reach their best levels in those events, a reality that shapes how leadership figures in the squad now approach preparation, focus and performance for this World Cup.

McGinn feels the current training camp in Charlotte has already helped the group adjust to the extreme heat, describing how the conditions seemed more draining in the first days, when players bent over with hands on knees and saw similar images from England’s sessions, before gradually feeling more comfortable.

Scotland World Cup mindset and John McGinn’s approach

The midfielder believes that once the competitive games begin, temperature becomes less important than mentality, with Scotland determined to raise intensity further at the World Cup, while daily work on standards in camp is seen as vital to achieving something the national team have never previously managed at this level.

Reflecting on personal lessons, McGinn plans to change how the build-up is handled, aiming to enjoy the wider buzz earlier in the week but then narrow attention onto the match itself rather than the occasion, drawing on experiences from both club football and international tournaments.

McGinn argues that repeated exposure to major fixtures brings adaptation, as players recognise which routines help performance and which do not, and the midfielder now feels better prepared to manage pressure, recover between games and contribute during defining moments of Scotland’s World Cup campaign against Haiti and beyond.