The match between Brazil and Haiti was a Group C fixture in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, played on Friday, June 19, 2026. The game took place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, USA in front of 68,324 spectators.
Match Context and Stakes
Coming into this match, the pressure was on Brazil. After a disappointing 1-1 draw against Morocco in their opener, they needed a convincing win to solidify their position as Group C contenders. For Haiti, the situation was even more dire. Having lost their first match 1-0 to Scotland, they were fighting to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
First Half: Brazil’s Dominant Display
Brazil came out with an aggressive, attacking 4-3-3 formation and immediately took control.
- Early Chances: Brazil had two goals disallowed for offside in the first half. The first came in the 12th minute when Raphinha finished a through ball from Bruno Guimarães, but the flag was correctly raised. A similar fate befell Raphinha ten minutes later.
- 23rd Minute – Cunha’s First: The deadlock was broken in the 23rd minute. Vinícius Júnior cut in from the left and his curling shot was parried by Haiti’s goalkeeper, Johny Placide. The rebound fell perfectly for Matheus Cunha, who tapped in for a simple finish.
- 36th Minute – Cunha’s Second: Just 13 minutes later, Cunha doubled the lead. Haiti lost the ball in midfield, and Vinícius Júnior played a through ball to Cunha on the left. He smashed a powerful, first-time finish into the roof of the net. This brace marked Cunha’s first career World Cup goals.
- 45+3′ Minute – Vinícius Júnior’s Goal: Brazil added a third goal deep into first-half stoppage time. Lucas Paquetá delivered a lofted pass to Vinícius Júnior, who controlled it and slotted a right-footed strike past the helpless Placide.
The first half ended with Brazil holding a commanding 3-0 lead.
Second Half: A Tamer Affair
With a comfortable lead, Brazil eased off the pace in the second half. Haiti, ranked 82nd in the world, showed more fight and switched to a more attacking 4-4-2 formation, but they struggled to seriously threaten the Brazilian goal.
- Haiti’s Chances: Haiti managed to force Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson into a couple of saves. Their best opportunities came from a point-blank header from Ricardo Adé that Alisson saved, and a late stoppage-time strike from Dominique Simon that was also kept out by the Liverpool goalkeeper.
- Brazil’s Missed Opportunities: Brazil also had several chances to increase their lead. Substitute Gabriel Martinelli hit the crossbar, another substitute, Endrick, had a goal ruled out for offside, and Ederson put a good chance wide.
The match finished 3-0 to Brazil.
Key Players and Incidents
- Matheus Cunha: The Manchester United forward was the star of the show. Recalled to the starting lineup, he scored two crucial first-half goals and was a constant threat.
- Vinícius Júnior: The Real Madrid star was instrumental, scoring one goal and providing the assist for Cunha’s second.
- Raphinha’s Injury: Brazil’s victory was slightly marred by an injury to forward Raphinha, who was substituted in the 39th minute with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
- Neymar’s Absence: Star player Neymar was not available for Brazil as he continued to recover from a calf injury sustained before the tournament.
Aftermath
The victory lifted Brazil to the top of Group C on goal difference, level on four points with Morocco. For Haiti, the defeat was the end of the road. They became the first team to be eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after losing their first two matches without scoring a single goal. It was a disappointing end for Haiti, who had qualified for their first World Cup since 1974.