FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil blank Haiti 3-0 in Philadelphia
What's the story
Brazil secured their first victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a resounding 3-0 win over Haiti. The match, held in Philadelphia, saw Matheus Cunha score twice and Vinicius Junior add another goal. The five-time champions now sit at the top of Group C with four points, equal on points with Morocco.
Match details
Cunha's brace hands Brazil 1st-half lead
Brazil started the match on a strong note after being held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening game. They took the lead in the 23rd minute when Vinicius's low shot was saved but Delcroix's attempted clearance ricocheted off Cunha and into the net. Cunha doubled Brazil's lead in the 36th minute with a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner, assisted by Vinicius.
Goal and assist
Vinicius adds 3rd goal just before half-time
Vinicius, who had scored Brazil's equalizer against Morocco, was instrumental in the team's third goal. He was picked out by Lucas Paqueta with a long pass and finished calmly past Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide in stoppage time of the first half. The second half saw Brazil manage their lead while Haiti switched to a 4-4-2 formation for better midfield control.
Upcoming match
Brazil aim to maintain momentum against Scotland
Brazil will be looking to build on this victory as they prepare for their final group-stage clash against Scotland. The match will be crucial in determining the final standings of Group C. Meanwhile, Haiti's defeat has ended their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the tournament.
Match stats
A look at the match stats
From nine attempts, Brazil recorded five shots on target. Haiti also made eight attempts but managed just four strikes on target. The winning side had a 57% ball possession in the game. They completed 533 passes with a fine 89% accuracy. Haiti's passes count was 387. Their accuracy was 84%.
Landmarks
A look at the key landmarks
As per Opta, Brazil have become the nation with the most goals in World Cup history (241). They went past Germany's tally of 239. This is the 41st instance of Brazil scoring at least three goals in a World Cup match, five more than any other team in tournament history. With an average of 30 years and 190 days, Brazil fields its oldest team in a World Cup game since the 1962 final against Czechoslovakia (30 years and 216 days).