Brazil Crush Haiti 3-0 as Cunha Stars and Mexico Become First Team Through at 2026 World Cup

Brazil swept aside Haiti 3-0 in a FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice on his first World Cup start and Vinicius Junior adding a goal and an assist in front of 68,324 fans. The result left Haiti as the first team eliminated from the tournament, while Brazil moved to four points and the top of Group C.

Cunha Makes His Mark, Haiti Exit Early

Coach Carlo Ancelotti had promoted Cunha to the starting lineup after using him only as a late substitute in Brazil’s opening 1-1 draw with Morocco, and the striker rewarded that trust emphatically. His first goal came when he tapped in a rebound after Vinicius’s shot was stopped by goalkeeper Johny Placide. His second was the more eye-catching of the two: a left-footed strike into the upper left corner after collecting a pass from Vinicius.

Vinicius Junior completed the scoring before half-time with Brazil’s third goal, capping a dominant first-half display. The Real Madrid forward had also found the net in the Morocco draw, his 32nd-minute equalizer rescuing a point for Brazil in their opener.

The victory was tempered slightly by concern over Raphinha, who was substituted off in the first half carrying an injury. He had an early goal disallowed for offside before his exit. For Haiti, the defeat confirmed their elimination from the knockout round, a painful end to their first World Cup appearance since 1974.

Neymar Targets Scotland Return

Absent from the Haiti match due to a lingering calf injury, Neymar had last played for Santos in Brazil’s top flight on May 17. Ancelotti offered cautious optimism about the star forward’s condition, saying he would train individually the day after the game and then rejoin the full squad on Monday. “He will be available for the match against Scotland,” Ancelotti confirmed.

Brazil face Scotland on June 25 in Miami Gardens, Florida, in their final Group C fixture. Morocco, who beat Scotland 1-0, sit behind Brazil on goal difference, with Scotland on three points. Ancelotti urged his side not to take the Scots lightly. “Scotland has its features. It can create a problem. It created problems to Morocco today,” he said. Brazil are chasing their first World Cup title since 2002.

Mexico Through, Canada and Switzerland Dominate

Mexico became the first team to secure a place in the round of 32, beating South Korea 1-0 at Guadalajara Stadium. Luis Romo scored the only goal in the 50th minute after a mix-up between South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and defender Lee Gihyuk. Goalkeeper Raul Rangel made a crucial double save late on to preserve the lead. Mexico, as Group A winners, will face a third-placed team in Mexico City on June 30. South Korea remain second in Group A with three points.

In Group B, Canada thrashed Qatar 6-0 at BC Place in Vancouver, with Jonathan David claiming a hat-trick to become the first player to score a World Cup hat-trick on home soil since Geoff Hurst did so for England in 1966. Cyle Larin added another, substitute Nathan Saliba curled in a free-kick, and a Jacob Shaffelburg effort was deflected in by Qatar’s Mohammad Manai. Canada, on four points, need only a draw against Switzerland to top the group. The match was marred by a serious injury to Ismael Kone in the 51st minute following a challenge from Qatar’s Assim Madibo, whose yellow card was upgraded to red by VAR.

Switzerland beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 in Los Angeles in the other Group B fixture. Substitute Johan Manzambi scored twice in the second half, becoming at 20 years and 247 days the youngest Swiss player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match and the first Swiss substitute to do so. Ruben Vargas also came off the bench to score and assist Manzambi’s second. Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic was sent off for a professional foul on Breel Embolo, and captain Granit Xhaka added a late penalty. Ermin Mahmic scored a consolation for Bosnia in stoppage time.

Paraguay’s Red Card Controversy Sinks Turkiye

In one of the day’s most dramatic matches, ten-man Paraguay defeated Turkiye 1-0, eliminating Turkiye after two consecutive defeats. Matias Galarza struck after just 64 seconds with a low drive from 25 metres, the fastest goal of the tournament, eclipsing Morocco’s Ismael Saibari, who had found the net after 71 seconds against Scotland.

The match turned on a moment of controversy when Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron received a straight red card in first-half stoppage time for covering his mouth during a confrontation with Turkiye’s Mert Muldur, a decision confirmed by VAR. Almiron became the first player dismissed under FIFA’s new mouth-covering rule at this World Cup. The regulation, introduced following an incident in which Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making discriminatory slurs to Vinicius Junior with his mouth covered during a UEFA Champions League match in February, mandates a straight red card for any player who covers their mouth with a hand, arm or shirt in confrontational situations. Prestianni received a six-match ban, which FIFA later extended globally.

Despite playing more than 40 minutes a man down, Paraguay held on for a result that represented a remarkable turnaround after their opening 4-1 loss to the United States. The American side secured top spot in Group D as a result and will face a third-placed team in Santa Clara, California on July 1.

Day 10 Preview

The 2026 World Cup continues with four matches on the next day of action: Netherlands versus Sweden in Houston, Germany against Ivory Coast in Toronto, Ecuador facing Curacao in Kansas City, and Tunisia taking on Japan in Monterrey. Opta’s statistical model gives the Netherlands a 55.9 percent chance of beating Sweden, who have won just one of their last seven meetings with the Dutch. Tunisia go into their match under new coach Herve Renard, appointed following the team’s 5-1 defeat to Sweden.