PHILADELPHIA — Five-time world champions Brazil bounced back in style from their opening-match disappointment, storming to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti in their second Group C fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A sensational first-half performance featuring a brace from Matheus Cunha and a brilliant strike from Vinicius Junior sealed the three points for the Seleção, putting them firmly in control of their World Cup campaign.
Cunha and Vinicius Junior Light Up the First Half
Looking to erase the memory of their frustrating 1-1 draw against Morocco, Brazil started with immense attacking intent at Lincoln Financial Field. It didn’t take long for the pressure to pay off.
- 23rd Minute (1-0): The breakthrough came when Vinicius Junior forced a low save from the Haitian goalkeeper. Haiti’s defender Hannes Delcroix attempted to clear the rebound, but the ball deflected off the incoming Matheus Cunha and flew into the back of the net.
- 36th Minute (2-0): Cunha turned provider-turned-scorer for his second. Vinicius Jr sliced open the Haitian defense with a perfectly weighted through-ball. Cunha latched onto it, driving into the box before unleashing a powerful left-footed rocket into the top corner.
- 45+1 Minute (3-0): Just before the halftime whistle, Lucas Paqueta delivered a pinpoint long-range pass. Vinicius Junior controlled it masterfully, leaving his marker behind to slot home Brazil’s third goal of the afternoon.
Match Stat: Brazil completely dominated the first 45 minutes, registering 72% possession and leaving Haiti with no shots on target before the break.
Haiti Resists in the Second Half
Down by three, Haiti shifted to a more conservative 4-4-2 formation in the second half to prevent a total blowout. The tactical tweak worked well to contain the Brazilian flair, as Les Grenadiers put up a much more disciplined defensive display.
While Brazil head coach Dorival Junior made a series of substitutions to rotate his squad, the Seleção failed to add to their tally despite creating a few late openings. Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker remained largely untested throughout the match, securing an easy clean sheet.
Group C Standings and What’s Next
With this victory, Brazil moves to the top of Group C with 4 points from two matches, ahead of Morocco (who defeated Scotland 1-1 earlier) on goal difference.
| Team | Played | Points | Goal Diff |
| Brazil | 2 | 4 | +3 |
| Morocco | 2 | 4 | +1 |
| Scotland | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Haiti | 2 | 0 | -4 |
Following their second consecutive defeat, Haiti becomes the first team to be officially eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil will look to seal their qualification to the knockout rounds when they face Scotland in their final group-stage match.
