Brazil picked up their first win of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after cruising to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
There was plenty of pressure on the Seleção after their 1-1 draw against Morocco last week. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side answered as they usually do on the big stage, taking control of Group C with clinical finishing and sturdy game management. The crowd of 68,324 saw Brazil score all three goals before halftime.
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha, who replaced Igor Thiago in the starting lineup, netted a brilliant brace, while Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior contributed a goal and an assist. Haiti grew into the second half and created more shots, but a composed Brazilian backline and goalkeeper Alisson Becker saw out the clean sheet.
Table of Contents
Match Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | World Cup 2026 – Group C |
| Fixture | Brazil vs. Haiti |
| Venue | Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA) |
| Attendance | 68,324 |
| Referee | Alejandro Hernandez |
| Final Score | Brazil 3 – 0 Haiti |
First Half: Samba Stars Find Their Rhythm Early
The opening 45 minutes were decisive. Brazil’s blend of speed on the wings and sharp combinations through the middle told early. They established rhythm and territory, boasting 62% possession before the break, completing 279 passes to Haiti’s 174.
After Raphinha saw an early goal chalked off for offside, Cunha opened the scoring in the 23rd minute to settle any early nerves. He deflected an attempted clearance from Hannes Delcroix into the back of the net to finish a flowing move.
The Manchester United forward doubled his tally in the 36th minute. Getting on the end of a Vinícius Júnior pass as Brazil sliced through Haiti’s shape down the left, Cunha lashed the ball into the top-left corner.
Vinícius made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time (45+3′). Lucas Paquetá lifted the ball over the top of the Haiti defense, allowing Vinícius to compose himself before finishing cleanly through the legs of goalkeeper Johny Placide.
Brazil outshot Haiti 6-0 in the first half, with all six attempts coming from inside the box. They did not concede a single shot before the break, marking the first time they have achieved this in a World Cup match since facing Scotland in 1990.
Goal Summary Timeline
| Minute | Goalscorer | Team | Assist / Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23′ | Matheus Cunha | Brazil | Deflected an attempted clearance into the net |
| 36′ | Matheus Cunha | Brazil | Lashed into the top-left corner; Assist by Vinícius Júnior |
| 45+3′ | Vinícius Júnior | Brazil | Finished through the keeper’s legs; Assist by Lucas Paquetá |
Second Half: Haiti Responds as Brazil Manage the Game
The only concern for Brazil in the first half was an injury to Raphinha. The Barcelona winger was substituted off in the 40th minute with a suspected hamstring issue and was replaced by Rayan.
Haiti reset with two half-time changes (Wilson Isidor and Dominique Simon) and immediately found a foothold. The underdogs actually outshot Brazil 8-2 in the second half, generating 0.32 expected goals (xG) to Brazil’s 0.29. Haiti pushed entries to the edge of Brazil’s area more often, but Brazil’s shape—led by Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães—stayed compact.
Haiti almost pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when Ricardo Ade beat Marquinhos in the air from a corner, but Alisson was on hand to make a brilliant reflex save. Alisson made three saves overall to prevent a swing in momentum.
Fan favorite Endrick came off the bench to make his World Cup debut and thought he had added a fourth goal. However, he was denied by the offside flag as his run to get on the end of Bruno Guimarães’ pass was made too soon. Brazil were flagged offside eight times in total as they kept stretching Haiti’s back line.
Tactical Breakdown: Clinical Finishing
Across the 90 minutes, Brazil held 57% possession and completed 461 accurate passes to Haiti’s 331. The xG gap of 1.50 to 0.32 underlined Brazil’s chance quality, with three big chances created and all three scored. Overall shots finished level at 8-8, but Brazil led 5-3 on target and 8-5 for shots inside the box, the most telling shooting zones.
Brazil also edged duels at 57% and were strongest in the air at 61%. Final-third entries were close (53 to 50), but Brazil were cleaner in the final-third phase at 67% to Haiti’s 63%. Haiti cleared more danger, 22 to 14, a sign of Brazil’s pressure phases.
Player Spotlight: Vinícius Júnior’s Magic Touch
While Matheus Cunha provided the crucial finishing touches, Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior was the creative heartbeat of the Seleção. The dynamic winger played 81 minutes and was central to Brazil’s devastating first-half flow, directly contributing a goal, an assist, and a key pass.
Vinícius showcased his exceptional vision in the 36th minute by playing Cunha through on goal for Brazil’s second. Just moments later, he added a slick finish of his own in first-half stoppage time, expertly composing himself to slot the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs.
His stellar performance cemented a historic milestone. Vinícius has now been directly involved in three goals (two goals, one assist) across his first two matches at the 2026 World Cup. He becomes only the third Brazilian player to achieve this remarkable feat in the 21st century, joining the elite company of Elano (in 2010) and Rivaldo (in 2002). His undeniable chemistry with Cunha and Lucas Paquetá—who provided a big chance created and threaded 45 of 48 passes—bodes incredibly well for Brazil’s ambitions as they head deeper into the tournament.
A brief nod must also go to Matheus Cunha for his lethal brace. He scored with both shots he put on target (turning 0.73 xG into 1.65 expected goals on target). He completed 25 of 29 passes (86% success rate), recorded 18 ball carries that covered 162.7 meters, and contributed defensively with 5 ball recoveries, 2 tackles, and an interception. Cunha became the fifth player to score a brace for Brazil in a World Cup match during the 21st century, joining Ronaldo, Neymar, Luis Fabiano, and Richarlison.
What This Means for Group C
Brazil head into the final Group C match with confidence after a complete first-half display and a professional close. The 3-0 victory secures three vital points and moves the Seleção to the top of the group standings.
Haiti showed resilience and brighter attacking patterns after halftime, proving they can create chances against elite opposition. However, they will need to be much sharper defensively from the opening whistle in their next match to keep their tournament hopes alive.
FAQs
What was the final score between Brazil and Haiti at the World Cup 2026?
Brazil comfortably defeated Haiti 3-0 in their Group C clash.
Who scored the goals for Brazil?
Matheus Cunha scored a brace (two goals) in the first half, and Vinícius Júnior added a third goal in first-half stoppage time.
What historical milestone did Matheus Cunha achieve?
Cunha became only the fifth player to score a brace for Brazil in a World Cup match during the 21st century, joining Ronaldo, Neymar, Luis Fabiano, and Richarlison.
Why was Raphinha substituted early in the match?
Raphinha was substituted off in the 40th minute due to a suspected hamstring injury and was replaced by Rayan.
How did Brazil’s defense perform in the first half?
Brazil did not concede a single shot to Haiti in the first 45 minutes, marking the first time they have achieved this in a World Cup match since facing Scotland in 1990.
