Cunha Brace, Vinícius Goal Fire Brazil Past Haiti at World Cup

Brazil bounced back from their opening-match frustrations to secure a commanding 3-0 victory over Haiti, putting one foot firmly in the knockout stage of the World Cup 2026. A first-half masterclass powered by a Matheus Cunha brace and a composed finish from Vinicius Junior sealed all three points for the five-time world champions.

The victory in Philadelphia moves Carlo Ancelotti’s side to the top of the group table on goal difference. Despite Morocco securing a 1-0 win over Scotland in Boston to match Brazil on 4 points, the Seleção retain the apex position heading into the final group matchday.

Cunha and Vinicius Ignite First-Half Blitz

Playing before a roaring crowd of 68,324 spectators, Brazil assumed absolute control from the opening whistle. While an early effort from Raphinha was ruled out for offside, the South American giants did not have to wait long to breach Haiti's defensive lines.

The breakthrough came when Vinicius Junior forced a sharp save from Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide, allowing Matheus Cunha to pounce on the loose rebound and fire home the opener.

Haiti’s defensive structural issues worsened shortly after due to a severe miscommunication inside their own penalty area. Capitalizing on the hesitation, Cunha latched onto the ball, unleashing a strike that deflected off defender Delcroix and doubled the cushion.

The forward completed his brace minutes later, controlling a brilliant cross from Vinicius before rifling a powerful left-footed shot into the top-left corner, celebrating with his signature "surfing" gesture.

Stoppage-Time Chips and Near Misses

Brazil put the game completely out of reach in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Midfielder Lucas Paquetá executed a perfectly weighted chip over the Haitian backline, releasing Vinicius Junior down the left flank.

As Placide rushed off his line to narrow the shooting angle, the Real Madrid winger remained unfazed, executing a delicate chip over the goalkeeper’s head to send Brazil into the interval with a comfortable 3-0 advantage.

The second half allowed Ancelotti to rotate his squad, though Brazil continued to create clear-cut opportunities. Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli nearly added a fourth just four minutes after coming off the bench in the 68th minute, but his low drive rattled back off the woodwork.

In the 78th minute, teenage prodigy Endrick made his highly anticipated World Cup debut, replacing Cunha. The young forward immediately found the back of the net by slotting a low finish through the goalkeeper's legs, but the goal was chalked off as the assistant referee raised the flag for offside.

Despite a late stoppage-time miss by Silva in front of an open goal, Brazil closed out the match effortlessly, securing a vital clean sheet and maximum points on their World Cup campaign.