Matheus Cunha scored twice and Vinícius Júnior added a third as Brazil secured their first win of the tournament, with Haiti becoming the first team eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil delivered a dominant 3-0 victory over Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium on Thursday, securing their first three points of the tournament and simultaneously eliminating the Caribbean debutants from the World Cup.
Coming off a disappointing 1-1 opening-day draw against Morocco, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti demanded immediate attacking urgency. He shifted his tactics, dropping underperforming striker Igor Thiago to give Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha a start. The decision paid immediate dividends.
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Haiti deployed an ultra-defensive 5-4-1 low-block system but was completely overwhelmed by Brazil’s overlapping width. Cunha broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, bundling home a scrappy rebound. Ten minutes later, he struck again, unleashing a magnificent long-range screamer into the top corner. Just before the halftime whistle, Lucas Paquetá threaded a lovely ball to Vinícius Júnior, who rounded the goalkeeper to slice home the third.
The only blemish on Brazil’s night came right before halftime when winger Raphinha limped off with an apparent injury. The second half saw a severe drop in intensity as Brazil coasted. Haiti bravely switched to a 4-4-2 shape and created a few chances, but goalkeeper Alisson Becker produced a spectacular diving save to ensure a clean sheet. Substitute prodigy Endrick had a late fourth goal ruled out by VAR for offside.
Brazil dominated possession with 57 percent and registered nine shots, five on target, while Haiti managed eight shots, four on target. Brazilian passing accuracy stood at 89 percent compared to Haiti’s 84 percent.
By bringing on young starlets Endrick and Rayan in the second half, this became the first time since 1958 that Brazil featured two teenagers on the pitch in a single World Cup match. Brazil’s all-time leading scorer Neymar watched from the bench, ruled out of a starting role due to an ongoing calf injury.
The match carried deep historical significance. It echoed the famous “Match for Peace” in 2004, when Brazil played Haiti as a symbol of diplomacy during a UN stabilization mission. Brazil held a perfect record across their three previous meetings.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, combined with Morocco’s 1-0 win over Scotland, Brazil’s 3-0 margin propels them to the top of Group C on goal difference. Haiti, with zero points from two matches, become the first team officially eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 20, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
