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The second Group C encounter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place tonight at Boston Army Stadium, with the Tartan Army ready to cheer on Scotland.

Scotland will face Haiti in what marks their first World Cup appearance since 1998. Entering the expanded 48-team tournament being held across North America, the Scots are in impressive form.

Steve Clarke’s side comes into this fixture after two convincing victories — 4-0 against Bolivia and 4-1 over Curacao — netting eight goals in their last two outings. Fans will be hoping for another strong performance, but attention has also turned to the match officials for tonight’s contest.

The Group C tie between Scotland and Haiti will be officiated by Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal. He will be assisted by fellow Algerians Mokrane Gourari and Abbes Akram Zerhouni, while Spain’s Alejandro Hernandez will serve as the fourth official.

Ghorbal, an experienced referee, was involved in a controversial moment earlier this year when he took charge of the first leg of the African Champions League semi-final in April. During that match, he overturned a potentially decisive goal — a decision upheld by VAR — which ultimately influenced the outcome of the game.

The team that benefited from Ghorbal’s and the VAR’s call went on to win 1-0, and the result sparked chaotic scenes at the final whistle. Ghorbal and his officiating team required a police escort to leave the pitch safely after being targeted by angry fans who threw bottles.

Despite that incident, the Algerian official remains one of the continent’s most seasoned referees. Most of his domestic experience comes from Ligue 1 in Algeria, but he has also officiated at several major international tournaments.

Ghorbal has featured in the last four editions of the Africa Cup of Nations and was among the referees selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he managed two group-stage matches. His international résumé also includes overseeing Egypt’s thrilling 3-2 win over Côte d’Ivoire in January and Manchester City’s emphatic 6-0 victory against Al-Ain in the FIFA Club World Cup last summer.

Statistically, Ghorbal is known for his strict officiating style, averaging nearly four yellow cards per match. Across fewer than 300 games, he has shown over 1,000 bookings, highlighting his firm control on the pitch.