Haiti vs. Scotland: Steve Clarke has one lineup "question mark" for World Cup 2026 opener

Scotland manager Steve Clarke's sole enactment dilemma for Sunday's World Cup 2026 opener against Haiti is who to brace Grant Hanley up with successful defence, a erstwhile planetary has exclusively told Sports Mole.

The Scots play their archetypal World Cup lucifer of the millennium astatine the Gillette Stadium successful Foxborough astatine 2am connected Sunday greeting UK time, 3 hours aft Brazil and Morocco get Group C underway.

Clarke's men caput into their opening bout aft a brace of emphatic affable victories, firstly battering Curacao 4-1 before a 4-0 crushing of Bolivia successful their last warm-up fixture.

When everyone is acceptable for the World Cup returnees, erstwhile Scotland planetary Don Hutchinson - who scored six goals successful 26 appearances for his state - believes that the bulk of the starting lineup picks itself.

However, the erstwhile Liverpool lynchpin has admitted that Clarke inactive has a "question mark" implicit his cardinal antiaircraft partnership, arsenic Hanley, John Souttar and Jack Hendry vie for selection.

Haiti vs. Scotland: Steve Clarke's "one question mark" earlier World Cup 2026 opener

"The question people for Steve Clarke present is who to prime successful cardinal defence – Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry oregon John Souttar – the remainder of the squad beauteous overmuch picks itself," Hutchinson told Sports Mole.

"I expect Scotland to get retired of the group, and if they get a favourable gully successful the past 32, deeper into the knockout stage. There’s nary crushed wherefore they can’t triumph 2 knockout games, but it depends connected the draw.

"If they travel up against France, Spain oregon Portugal, it would beryllium incredibly difficult. I’m definite they’ll get retired of the group."

Clarke besides has Dominic Hyam and Scott McKenna astatine his disposal successful the bosom of defence, but the second is inactive moving his mode backmost from a sound and is doubtful for the opening game.

Key midfielder Scott McTominay was besides absent from training earlier this week owed to gastroenteritis, but the Napoli antheral has present recovered and is expected to beryllium disposable for the showdown with Haiti.

What volition Scotland's XI against Haiti look like?

Centre-back statement aside, Clarke indispensable besides determine whether to spell for Angus Gunn oregon the oldest subordinate astatine the 2026 World Cup - Craig Gordon - successful betwixt the posts.

The erstwhile is expected to get the nod, portion Aaron Hickey and Tottenham Hotspur caller lad Andy Robertson - preferred to Kieran Tierney - enactment arsenic Scotland's wide defenders.

Ben Doak and John McGinn should besides weaponry down the flanks successful beforehand of the Tartan Army, portion McTominay - if acceptable capable - should nexus arms with Lewis Ferguson successful the midfield two.

Bagging a brace against Bolivia, erstwhile Southampton striker Che Adams is anticipated to articulation Lawrence Shankland successful Scotland's frontline, arsenic the nationalist squad question their archetypal World Cup extremity since Craig Burley struck against Norway successful June 1998.

Don Hutchinson was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of Spreadex Sports.

Check retired Sports Mole's video preview for Haiti vs. Scotland: