The trigger for the tears and the cheers in Boston?

That would be Scotland's goal hero John McGinn...

Megan Bonar
BBC Scotland News in Boston

It is estimated that up to 30,000 Scotland fans have travelled to Boston for the World Cup.

They included Amy Devine, 30, from Pollokshields in Glasgow, who was among the thousands who watched the Haiti match at a fan zone.

"I'm so emotional, I've cried about 10 times today,” she said.

"My husband is at the game and he's sent me photos of him crying too."

Amy is staying with her friend Izzie Schmaltz, 27, who is from Boston but used to live in Glasgow.

“We've basically won the World Cup now, right? We're top of the group," said Izzie.

"It's an amazing atmosphere, it's like being back in Glasgow. Look around you, it's like a Saturday night in Glasgow."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer at Boston Stadium

Image source, PA Media

After 28 years of watching World Cups from football's wilderness, there was never much danger of the Tartan Army getting antsy about the gridlock on the road to Foxborough.

On the contrary, in the hours leading up to what turned into a surreally stressful evening as Scotland ground their way to a 1-0 win over Haiti, fans revelled in the traffic delays, inch by inch, yard by yard.

Oblivious to the anxiety they were going to experience later on, a convoy of yellow school buses stuttered their way down the I-95 four hours before kick-off and Scots hung out the windows of every one of them, singing their songs, waving their flags, partying at a pace of a mile an hour.

The sense of anticipation and joy was so palpable you could have reached out and touched it. These Scotland supporters are remarkable. Vast waves of them. Clusters on every street corner in Boston. An occupying army.

Seven minutes before 9pm local time, Scotland entered the most extraordinary arena, the Boston Stadium. A riot of colour and noise, a football stadium, yes, but a theatre, too. A place for gladiators.

If you have to miss out on World Cups for nearly 30 years then this was the way to mark your return.

Giant screens behind both goals picking out every human emotion among the fans. Shivers up the spine, heart beating out the chest, Flower of Scotland belted out with gusto, its power almost greater on a foreign field than it is at home.

The scene was an antidote to all that is wrong in world football; the rampant greed, the unrelenting bombast. This was raw, powerful and emotional.

Read more from Tom English here.

Lorna Gordon
BBC Scotland correspondent on 5 Live Breakfast

You've got to put this into context. This was Scotland's first World Cup win in 36 years. When that goal [from John McGinn] was scored, the noise inside the arena where I was, alongside 5,000 others was absolutely deafening.

A joyful, joyful moment for the fans here [in Boston] and the millions of people right across Scotland who stayed up through the night.

A big moment for the Scotland fans and really good result, albeit that it was a nerve-wracking 90 minutes.

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney posted a video on X, external from Boston Stadium in Foxborough.

He wrote "Scotland, you have done us proud" and left a hoarse-sounding yet happy message for the team.

"Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson and the team have done us proud," he said.

"There’s not a lovelier feeling than being the first First Minister of Scotland to see Scotland win a game in the World Cup."

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn told BBC Sportsound: "It was difficult. We knew that it was going to be tough but we expected our quality would show in the end.

"We definitely won't be happy when we look back at it and we'll have to improve for the next two games but it's three points at the World Cup. When the full-time whistle went I was absolutely buzzing.

"I thought we dropped a bit deep, even in the first half. They had two powerful guys up front who pushed us back. I was just screaming at the lads to try and stay up and stay as high as possible. We were just grinding it out and waiting for that full time whistle.

"They were a good side. We fully prepared for that. I think they had a really good game, had a great game plan. I don't think we showed enough quality on the ball but we got the three points, we got the clean sheet and we won a game in the World Cup.

"I think it's good that we started with three points and experienced the atmosphere here. Our next game is here, I think that helps us. That's the first one out the way and hopefully we can play the next one a bit more relaxed.

"It was a very proud moment for me, all my family are here and I nearly cried when I saw them at the end."

Here's some more stats to warm the hearts of Scotland supporters everywhere:

• Scotland have won their opening World Cup match for the third time (also 1974 and 1982). All three times, they were top of the group, with all three groups also featuring Brazil.
• This was Scotland’s fifth World Cup win, their first since a 2-1 victory over Sweden in 1990.
• Scotland have kept a clean sheet for the fourth time in a World Cup match (W2 D2) – three of them were against opponents from the Americas, including this and 0-0 draws against Uruguay (1986) and Brazil (1974).
• Angus Gunn is the third Scottish goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at the Fifa World Cup, following David Harvey (twice in 1974) and Jim Leighton (1986).
• Scotland had more possession (59% to 41%) and attempts (6 to 3) until McGinn scored. After that, Haiti dominated possession (60% to 40%) and had more total shots (12 to 3).

Whatever happens in the rest of the group stage, there is one thing that cannot be taken from Scotland.

In beating Haiti, Scotland became the first European nation to win in the 2026 World Cup.

Czech Republic, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Switzerland all tried and failed before them, while Turkey also came a cropper against Australia in the early hours.

World Cup results so far:

• Mexico 2-0 South Africa
• South Korea 2-1 Czech Republic
• Canada 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
• United States 4-1 Paraguay
• Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
• Brazil 1-1 Morocco
• Haiti 0-1 Scotland
• Australia 2-0 Turkey

Could this be a trend for Europe? A handful of big-hitters will be hoping to follow Scotland's lead in the next round of matches:

Sunday, 14 June

• Germany v Curacao (18:00)
• Netherlands v Japan (21:00)

Monday, 15 June

• Ivory Coast v Ecuador (00:00)
• Sweden v Tunisia (03:00)

Before Scotland's vital victory against Haiti last night, one Scotland fan in Boston told television cameras that he thought Scotland would win.

He also foretold that Scotland would win against Brazil, Morocco, whoever they faced in the knockout stage - and the final, too.

It was then his friend's turn to give his views: "win or lose, I'll enjoy myself".

There are many ways to cope with the sometimes terrifying condition of being a football fan.

Now that you've seen how Scotland performed against Haiti, we want to know how confident you are feeling for their campaign.

Use the sliding scale below to share your view.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

We think the worst-case scenario for Scotland is actually Brazil on 7, Morocco on 7 and Scotland on 3 points, Davie, but we get what you are trying to say.

The assumption was that three points could and maybe should be enough to see Scotland through as a best-placed third-place finisher.

But if more than eight third-place finishers manage a win in the group stage, then it could become dodgy for Steve Clarke's side if they fail to pick up any more points from their matches against Morocco and Brazil.

It may come down to goal difference, meaning Scotland, who are currently on +1, could be in trouble if they ship too many goals in their final two group games.

But a draw in their next match against Morocco on 19 June will allay all those fears and secure a route through to the knockout stages for the first time in their history.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland midfielder Lewis Fergusontold BBC One: "The scenes at the end - these fans have waited so long for that. It was pretty special and nice to take it all in.

"They are a good side. Three points and we move on to the next. There was a lot of pressure on us and we put pressure on ourselves to win the game.

"We can play better, but we came here to do a job and we've done that.

"My job in this team is to be really disciplined, defend the back four, and I tried to do that today. I tried to stop passes going into their strikers.

"We defended pretty well, but we can be better and we will be better."

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland in Boston

“That’s one of the best things ever to happen to me in my life.”

A message into my pals’ group chat moments after full time.

You could say it’s hyperbole, but this meant so much to so many. It’s hard to describe the feeling of watching World Cup after World Cup from afar. I was 11 last time it happened. My son is now 11.

It wasn’t pretty and yes the opposition weren’t of the highest calibre, but this was a seismic night for Scotland. Both in a sporting sense, and also in liberating a generation starved of such moments.

Image source, Scott Mullen

Sean McDonald, host of the Blethered podcast, told 5 Live Breakfast that he had not yet gone to bed after taking in Scotland's win from a watch party in Boston:

"We're still partying. It's been absolutely incredible, honestly. The whole country [Scotland] is on an absolute high.

"We are unified for the first time in what feels like a long time because we have been so divided - whether that's with football or politics or socio-political issues.

"Last night it was just paradise because we are all on an absolute high - together in unison, which is a rarity."

Come on Jamie and Jeremy, where is the optimism?

A win and a clean sheet in the bag as Scotland top Group C.

We've already seen Brazil held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco. Who knows what other twists might lie ahead!

Scotland captain Andy Robertsontold BBC Sportsound: "What an amazing feeling.

"The lads achieved their dreams today. It was such a long day waiting, I can't imagine what the fans back home were like staying up so late. The fact we managed to walk out onto the pitch and sing the national anthem together, it was so special. To then go and follow it up with a win, it doesn't get much better than that.

"Three important points, ok people expected us to win but we had to go out and do it. It was so important to win that game and I'm so glad we did it.

"The biggest thing was when we scored we didn't look like conceding and that has to be credit to every single player out there that defended for their lives.

"We worked so well from a defensive point of view and when you're 1-0 up that's what you need.

"It's the World Cup, it's the biggest stage. People get nervous near the end but we felt pretty relaxed on the pitch."

Image source, PA Media