World Cup: Brazil crush Haiti 3-0 as Matheus Cunha brace sparks first win

Brazil recorded their first victory at the 2026 World Cup with a convincing 3-0 win over Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice and Vinicius Junior adding another as the five-time champions climbed to the top of Group C.

After being held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening game, Brazil needed a positive response and produced an impressive first-half display to leave Haiti chasing the game. The South Americans moved to four points, level with Morocco, who had previously beaten Scotland 1-0. Scotland remain on three points, while Haiti became the first team to crash out of the tournament after a string of defeats.

Brazil vs Haiti FIFA World Cup 2026: HIGHLIGHTS

Brazil took control in the 23rd minute, although luck was evident with the opening goal. Vinicius tested Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placid with minimal effort and while the shot was initially kept out, defender Hannes Delcroix’s effort deflected off Cunha and crossed the line to give Brazil the breakthrough.

The goal settled Brazil and they soon began to dominate proceedings. Cunha doubled the lead in the 36th minute in the decisive moment of the evening. Released by a perfectly balanced through ball from Vinicius, the striker burst into space and unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike into the top corner, leaving Placide stranded.

Brazil capped a dominant first-half performance in stoppage time. Lucas Paqueta spotted Vinicius’ run behind the Haiti defense and caught him with a great long pass. The Real Madrid forward got control of the ball before calmly finishing past Placido to make it 3-0 and effectively wrap up the game before the break.

Brazil built a comfortable lead and settled for control of the game in the second half. Carlo Ancelotti’s side controlled possession and rarely looked troubled but were unable to add to their tally despite enjoying the better chances and territory.

This could yet prove significant. With Morocco still set to face Haiti and Brazil set to take on qualifiers Scotland, goal difference could become the deciding factor in deciding who comes out on top in Group C.

At the same time, Haiti showed much more resilience after the break. The switch to a 4-4-2 helped them gain more control in midfield and they competed much better than in the one-sided first half. Although they never seriously threatened to mount a comeback, they managed to prevent Brazil from increasing their advantage further.

Goalkeeper Alisson had a relatively quiet evening as Brazil comfortably saw out the result to secure a win that got their World Cup campaign back on track after an opening draw against Morocco.

For Haiti, the defeat ended any hopes of reaching the knockout stage. However, their improved second-half display offered some encouragement despite becoming the first nation to crash out of the 2026 World Cup.

Brazil will now turn their attention to a crucial final group stage clash with Scotland, who carry momentum and confidence after their most complete performance of the tournament to date.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

20 Jun 2026 08:14 IST