By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 20, 2026 07:08 AM • 80 views
PHILADELPHIA — The heavy weight of expectation that always accompanies the yellow jersey lifted just a little under the Friday night lights at Lincoln Financial Field. After stuttering out of the blocks in their tournament opener, Brazil found both their rhythm and ruthless edge, dismantling Haiti 3-0 to assert control of Group C and secure their first victory of this World Cup campaign.
At the heart of this resurgence was Matheus Cunha. Handed a starting role by manager Carlo Ancelotti in one of two tactical adjustments, the forward repaid his manager’s faith in abundance, netting his first two career World Cup goals. While the spotlight often fixes on Brazil’s more transcendent stars, it was Cunha’s industry and clinical instinct that gave the Seleção the focal point they so desperately lacked six days ago.
This victory moves Brazil to four points, edging ahead of Morocco on goal difference at the summit of Group C. Conversely, the result spells the end of the road for a courageous Haiti squad, who become the first team officially eliminated from knockout contention following Morocco’s 1-0 triumph over Scotland earlier in the day.
For the first 15 minutes, Haiti defied expectations. Returning to the World Cup after decades, Les Grenadiers were cheered by a vibrant, rhythmic crowd. Rather than sitting deep, Sebastian Migne’s side pressed high and played confidently.
Yet, against elite opposition, enthusiasm can be a double-edged sword. Predictably, the gap in class was ultimately filled in the 23rd minute. Vinicius Junior, who tortured the Haitian backline all evening, cut inside and unleashed a fierce drive that goalkeeper Johny Placide could only parry. As centre-back Hannes Delcroix attempted to hack the ball clear, the relentless pressure of Cunha forced the ball over the line to break the deadlock.
With the lead, the five-time world champions began to manipulate the tempo at will. The second goal, arriving in the 36th minute, was a masterclass in transitional warfare. Capitalising on a midfield turnover from Haiti, Vinicius Junior threads a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Cunha’s diagonal dart. Despite a slight stumble as he gathered his stride, the striker recovered brilliantly to lash a powerful finish into the top corner, leaving Placide stranded.
However, the only dark cloud on Brazil’s evening arrived just four minutes later. Raphinha, who had already endured a frustrating half with an offside goal disallowed and a glaring miss, inexplicably dropped to his haunches. The Barcelona winger was forced off with an apparent leg injury, presenting Ancelotti with a significant selection headache moving forward.
Brazil stayed focused. In stoppage time, Lucas Paquetá lofted a perfect pass. Vinicius Junior outpaced defenders and slid a low finish past Placide for 3-0 before halftime.
The second half was largely an exercise in game management for the Seleção, though Haiti came very close to securing a historic moment. From a whipped corner, centre-back Ricardo Ade met the ball with a flashing, near-post header that required an athletic, reflexive stop from Alisson to preserve the clean sheet.
For Brazil, this was a positive step, restoring confidence in their World Cup pursuit.
