Brazil 3 – 0 Haiti

Match Report

Carlo Ancelotti's first real selection gamble at this World Cup paid off twice before half-time. The Brazil coach dropped Brentford's Igor Thiago for Manchester United's Matheus Cunha, and Cunha rewarded him with a brace inside 13 minutes as a fluid, interchanging front line picked apart a Haiti back five that kept pushing too high up the pitch.

The opener, on 23 minutes, was scrappy but legal: Vinícius Júnior's effort was saved, and Cunha forced the rebound home, the ball deflecting in off the unfortunate Hannes Delcroix on its way over the line. Cunha was fortunate the goal stood, but Brazil weren't complaining. Thirteen minutes later he had his second, and this one needed no luck — a brilliant left-footed strike, smashed high into the near corner while falling away off balance.

Brazil's afternoon had a sour note at 40 minutes, when Raphinha pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Bournemouth's Rayan, ice strapped to the back of his right leg on the bench afterward. Neymar, still not recovered from his own calf problem, was an unused substitute. With two of his attacking options compromised, Ancelotti got a third Brazil goal anyway: Vinícius Júnior steered in his second of the tournament and Brazil's third in stoppage time at the end of the half, effectively ending the contest before it reached 46 minutes.

Brazil eased off the gas after the break — by some distance their quietest attacking spell of the match — and gave 19-year-old Endrick his World Cup debut in the 64th minute. He almost marked it with a goal 14 minutes later, only for the offside flag to chalk off a Rayan-assisted finish. The 3-0 win sends Brazil top of Group C on goal difference ahead of a still wide-open final round of group games on June 24 (Brazil-Scotland in Miami, Morocco-Haiti in Atlanta). For Haiti, a second straight defeat means they become the first team eliminated from World Cup 2026.

Match Timeline

• 23'⚽GOAL — Matheus Cunha 🇧🇷 — Forces home the rebound after Vinícius Júnior's effort is saved, the ball deflecting in off Delcroix. 1-0.
• 36'⚽GOAL — Matheus Cunha 🇧🇷 — Brilliant left-footed finish high into the near corner while off balance. 2-0.
• 40'🩹Raphinha withdrawn with an apparent hamstring injury — replaced by Rayan.
• 45+3'⚽GOAL — Vinícius Júnior 🇧🇷 — Slots in Brazil's third before the break. 3-0.
• 64'🟢Endrick's World Cup debut — on for his first taste of tournament football at 19.
• 78'🚩Endrick's goal ruled out for offside after being played in by Rayan.
• 90+'🏁Full Time: Brazil 3-0 Haiti. Brazil move top of Group C on goal difference; Haiti are eliminated.

Three Things We Learned

1. Ancelotti's Cunha Gamble Paid Off Immediately

Benching Igor Thiago for Matheus Cunha looked like the headline call before kickoff. Two goals in 13 minutes made it look obvious in hindsight.

2. Brazil's Attacking Depth Is About to Be Tested

Raphinha's injury scare and Neymar's continued absence leave Ancelotti short of proven attacking options heading into a must-not-lose finale against Scotland. Rayan and Endrick may need to grow up fast.

3. Haiti Are Already Out

Two games, two losses, no points. Haiti's World Cup ends in the group stage with a game still to play — the first team eliminated from the 2026 tournament.

Player Ratings

🇧🇷 Brazil

🇭🇹 Haiti

Match Stats

• Brazil shots8 (joint-4th fewest by a team scoring 3+ at a WC since 1966)
• Brazil 2nd-half shots2 (joint-lowest after halftime on record)
• Brazil starting XI avg. age30y 190d — oldest since 1962
• VenueLincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Group C — After MD2 (Match 031)

Brazil edge top spot on goal difference. Group C is wide open going into the final round on June 24 — Brazil face Scotland in Miami, Morocco face an already-eliminated Haiti in Atlanta.