Matheus Cunha scored twice, while star forward Vinicius Junior added another as Brazil eased past Haiti 3-0 on Friday to breathe life into their World Cup campaign and close in on a spot in the last 32.
After a much-criticised display in their opening 1-1 draw with Morocco, the five-time world champions underlined the gulf in class with outsiders Haiti, who became the first country to exit this World Cup.
Dominant performance
Cunha’s scruffy goal in Philadelphia gave Brazil the lead midway through the first half, and he struck again as Carlo Ancelotti’s side asserted their dominance.
Vinicius Junior added a third before the break and credited coach Ancelotti for his goal-scoring prowess. “I played in a different position. The coach asked me to play more centrally, between two centre-backs. I don’t play there much, but whenever the coach asks me to and I have to play there, I score goals. I have to listen to him more. He’ll probably say when he gets to the dressing room that he understands football really well,” Vinicius said with a laugh in the mixed zone in Philadelphia.
Brazil play Scotland in their final Group C game in Miami on June 24. “The first match was completely different because of the pressure of the debut [against Morocco], but everyone was more relaxed today, the pitch also helped our football and we hope to keep it up and improve, which is the most important thing,” the Real Madrid winger said, while adding that he is at his best in all aspects.
“I always dreamed of being at 100% in the best competition in the world and scoring and providing an assist is very important because it gives me confidence for the next match. I hope to keep it up and play better matches,” he promised.
Brazil on top
The Selecao currently have the edge over Morocco for top spot on goal difference. If they finish first, they would face the Group F runners-up — likely to be the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden — in the next round. Ancelotti made changes after the insipid showing against Morocco, bringing United forward Cunha in for Brentford’s Igor Thiago and replacing Roger Ibanez with Danilo at right-back.
OneHaiti is the first team to get eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup
NineNo. of wins for Brazil against CONCACAF opponents in 10 World Cup matches; they have also kept nine clean sheets
TwoNo. of goals in the first half for Matheus Cunha against Haiti — the first Brazilian to do so in a World Cup match since Neymar (2022)
SixNo. of goal contributions for Vinicius in six World Cup matches — the fourth Brazilian to average one contribution per match in five games or more
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