Matheus Cunha scored two quickfire goals as Brazil swept past Haiti 3-0 in Philadelphia, securing their first win of the 2026 World Cup. All three goals came in a dominant first-half spell driven by the wide play of Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha. Haiti, without a point, are now certain to finish bottom of Group C.
Cunha's double breaks Haiti's resistance
Brazil opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Vinícius Júnior's shot was saved by Johny Placide, but the rebound fell to Cunha and deflected off Hannes Delcroix into the net. Ten minutes later, Vinícius provided a clever pass to find Cunha's diagonal run, and the forward smashed the ball high into the near post past goalkeeper Pierrot.
The goals were Cunha's second and third in 25 appearances for Brazil. His celebration, a trademark pose with arms crossed, was a highlight of the night. Vinícius Júnior added a third just before half-time, sliding home after a floated pass from Lucas Paquetá.
Raphinha injury mars Brazil's night
Brazil's joy was tempered by a hamstring injury to Raphinha, who limped off in the first half and was replaced by 19-year-old Rayan of Bournemouth. Manager Carlo Ancelotti later described the injury as a “genuine structural threat” to Brazil's progress in the tournament. Raphinha's absence could force a tactical reshuffle for Brazil's final group match against Scotland.
Ancelotti was noncommittal about Cunha's role going forward. “He may,” he said when asked if Cunha would remain as his central attacker. “I don't want a clear identity. Maybe we will change it in the next match.”
Haiti's brave effort falls short
Haiti, coached by Sébastien Migné who has never visited the country, defended in a deep block but left large spaces on the flanks that Brazil exploited ruthlessly. The team, representing a nation struggling with gang violence and political instability, earned praise for their resilience. “Their presence here has been a welcome addition to the show,” noted one observer.
The match was played on Juneteenth, a date that highlighted the shared histories of slavery between the two nations. Brazil was the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery, while Haiti is the only former slave colony to have staged a successful revolution.
Ancelotti's calm influence
Ancelotti, the most decorated manager in the tournament, remained composed throughout. “He knows a large part of his job here is to keep everyone calm, like the captain on a jet rocked with turbulence,” the report noted. Brazil's midfield trio of Bruno Guimarães, Lucas Paquetá, and Casemiro provided a solid foundation, while Vinícius Júnior's performance was described as “sharp and buzzy and hungry.”
Brazil now face Scotland in their final group match, while Haiti take on Morocco in Atlanta. Despite the win, questions remain about Brazil's ceiling in this tournament, but as one commentator put it: “Nobody will want to play them.”
