The report says Scotland’s meeting with Haiti will be their first World Cup fixture in 28 years, adding extra weight to an already historic occasion. The Tartan Army has travelled across the Atlantic, while fans at home are preparing for a late night of watch parties, packed pubs and fanzones.
For Clarke’s squad, the challenge will be managing that emotion. A strong start would settle nerves and give Scotland the platform to approach the rest of the group with belief. Haiti are unlikely to provide a purely ceremonial test, but Scotland will be expected to impose themselves through energy, discipline and set-piece quality.
Butler has reportedly urged the players to enjoy the occasion rather than carry the country’s expectations as a burden. He also believes the squad has already made Scotland proud simply by reaching the tournament.
That encouragement reflects the mood around the team: ambition without apology. Scotland have not often been afforded the luxury of entering a major tournament with widespread optimism, and the actor’s backing has added another layer of attention before kick-off.
The report says Butler expects Scotland to beat Haiti 2-0, before making an even bolder prediction: a 2-0 victory over England in the final. That forecast is deliberately ambitious, but it captures the freedom he wants the team to embrace.
The immediate priority, however, is simpler. Scotland must turn the noise in Boston into a composed performance and three points. Their opening display will shape the mood of the entire campaign - and determine whether Butler’s dream begins to look like more than Hollywood optimism.