Brazil eased tension in Group C with a controlled 3-0 victory over Haiti, earning a first win at the 2026 World Cup and moving top of the standings.
Matheus Cunha scored twice, Vinicius Junior added a goal and assist, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side responded well to pressure after drawing with Morocco.
The match at Philadelphia Stadium stayed one-sided for long spells as Brazil created better chances and kept control. They generated 1.5 expected goals from eight attempts, while Haiti managed only 0.25 from the same number of shots. Defensive concentration also improved, with Brazil shutting down space for most of the contest.
Vinicius continued a strong tournament start, taking his tally to two goals and one assist across Brazil’s opening two fixtures. That return makes Vinicius only the third Brazilian since 2000 to contribute to three goals in the first two World Cup matches, following Elano in 2010 and Rivaldo in 2002.
Cunha delivered on his recall after replacing Igor Thiago in the starting lineup, becoming the latest Brazil player to score twice in a World Cup game during this century. Cunha joined a list that includes Ronaldo, who has three such matches, Neymar with two, and Luis Fabiano and Richarlison with one each.
Brazil’s back line, questioned after conceding against Morocco, produced a more disciplined display against Haiti. The Selecao did not allow a single shot in the first half, a defensive benchmark not seen for Brazil at a World Cup since a group-stage meeting with Scotland in 1990, highlighting improved structure without the ball.
Haiti still created danger after the interval, especially from set pieces. The best opportunity arrived in the 63rd minute when Ricardo Ade rose above Marquinhos from a corner. Ade’s powerful header seemed destined for the net, but Alisson reacted sharply with a reflex stop to preserve the clean sheet.
The scoring story began earlier, though Brazil had a warning when Raphinha’s early finish was disallowed for offside. Cunha made the official breakthrough in the 23rd minute, diverting Hannes Delcroix’s attempted clearance beyond Johny Placide. The goal calmed Brazil and opened more space as Haiti tried to push forward.
Cunha struck again after the half-hour mark, sprinting clear once Vinicius released a precise through ball. The Manchester United forward drove a fierce shot into the top-left corner. Brazil’s third arrived in first-half stoppage time when Lucas Paqueta clipped a pass over the Haiti defence and Vinicius finished through Placide’s legs.
Fan favourite Endrick came off the bench to make a World Cup debut as Brazil managed the second half. The forward believed a first tournament goal had arrived after racing onto Bruno Guimaraes’ pass and scoring, yet the assistant’s flag ruled the effort out because Endrick’s run had started too early.
The only setback came with Raphinha’s suspected hamstring injury, forcing a substitution in the 40th minute. Brazil will now monitor the Barcelona winger before facing Scotland on Wednesday, 24 June. Ancelotti may need to adjust attacking options, though competition for forward places already looks strong after Cunha’s performance.
Overall, Brazil combined clinical finishing with stronger organisation to secure three points and strengthen qualification prospects for the last sixteen. The team responded to earlier scrutiny in both attack and defence, while individual displays from Vinicius and Cunha underlined growing confidence heading into the Group C meeting against Scotland.
The main match statistics from Brazil vs Haiti at the 2026 World Cup are shown in .