Matheus Cunha, Brazil eliminate Haiti with 3-0 win

PHILADELPHIA — Matheus Cunha struck the back of the web and struck a pose, bringing scoring — and a touch of browsing — to the World Cup stage for Brazil.

Vinícius Júnior scored and assisted on considered one of Cunha’s two goals as five-time champion Brazil eliminated Haiti from the World Cup with a 3-0 victory on Friday night.

“To be at a World Cup, to assume that, it might be so wonderful,” Cunha said. “It’s a dream fulfilled.”

Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation that qualified for the World Cup for the primary time since 1974, became the primary team guaranteed not to succeed in the knockout round of the expanded 48-team tournament. Meanwhile, the Seleção got the decisive performance they needed.

“It was what I expected from this match,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Ancelotti also said Neymar is predicted to return from a right calf injury and play for Brazil next week against Scotland in its final group match. Neymar, Brazil’s profession scoring leader with 79 goals, missed the primary two games.

Brazil’s Vinicius Junior (7) scores the third goal for his team against Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide (1) through the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Brazil got loads of scoring punch from Cunha on Friday.

The Manchester United standout got the beginning and showed with every surf-and-slide goal celebration why he must have been within the starting lineup in Brazil’s listless 1-1 draw against Morocco. Ancelotti made the surprising decision within the opener to as a substitute insert Cunha as a late substitute.

Cunha thrilled the Brazilian fans who made up the majority of the 68,324 spectators at Lincoln Financial Field when he tapped in a rebound for his first profession World Cup goal. He then sent a left-footed strike into the upper left corner for a 2-0 lead in the primary half against the overmatched Haitians.

Brazil forward Raphinha, who was subbed out with an injury in the primary half, had an early goal disallowed on an offside call that only temporarily muted the yellow-clad Seleção fans in an otherwise festive atmosphere at the house of the two-time Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles — whose cheerleaders did their part to rally the group.

Haitian fans danced and sang “Grenadye Alaso” (“Grenadiers to the Attack”), the standard battle cry of the national team. Brazilians chanted back with reminders that their country is a five-time World Cup champion and the house of the king of soccer: “A thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals! Only Pelé, only Pelé!”

Cunha added to the frivolity in Philadelphia, home to just about 6,000 Brazilian immigrants, when he flashed his familiar browsing celebration.

Vinícius, whose Thirty second-minute goal helped Brazil earn the draw against Morocco, helped Brazil get on the board when his shot was stopped by goalkeeper Johny Placide and Cunha was there to slam home the rebound to make it 1-0. Cunha prolonged each arms as if attempting to catch some tasty waves and was mobbed his teammates.

Vinícius slid a go through the defense to seek out Cunha and he powered one high into the web that Placide never had a likelihood to stop to make it 2-0. Cunha slid on his stomach on the Kentucky bluegrass and mimicked a swimming motion that each one but put Haiti within the drink — and validated the Brazilians’ fans decision to not tempt fate and dress the Rocky statue outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art in team gear.

Vinícius closed the half with a goal and that was enough to maintain Brazil — looking for its first World Cup title since 2002 — glad before it closes Group C play with Neymar expected within the lineup against Scotland on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

“He’s an important player; he’s my idol,” Vinícius said. “He at all times gave me tons of support. And we just hope he can play the subsequent game and help us win the World Cup.”

Brazil kept pace with Morocco atop the group, with Scotland one point behind.

“Our first game was totally different because we had the pressure of being our first one,” Vinícius said. “Everyone was feeling lighter today and the sector was also in a greater condition, so we were in a position to do our soccer.”

For Haiti, just making the World Cup for the primary time in 52 years was a satisfying accomplishment.

“What was positive was that we didn’t quit,” coach Sébastien Migné said. “The morale was there for the second half. They showed that they deserved to be here on the World Cup. Unfortunately, today we played against Brazil. There was an excessive amount of of a niche.”