PHILADELPHIA — Brazil eased past Haiti 3-0 on Friday night to secure its first victory of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice in a performance that could reshape Carlo Ancelotti’s attack for the rest of the tournament.
The five-time world champions entered the match under pressure after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Morocco in their Group C opener. They left Philadelphia Stadium with four points, three goals, and what may finally be a solution at center forward.
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Cunha struck in the 23rd minute after Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide blocked Vinicius Junior’s initial effort. The Manchester United forward reacted first to the rebound and calmly finished from close range to put Brazil ahead.
Brazil doubled its lead 13 minutes later. Vinicius slipped a precise pass through the Haitian defense and Cunha fired a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner for his second goal of the night. The finish capped a dominant first half from the striker, who had started on the bench against Morocco.
Vinicius then added a goal of his own in first-half stoppage time. The Real Madrid star was involved throughout the evening, helping create Brazil’s attacking momentum and ensuring the match was effectively decided before halftime.
The victory was comfortable, but not entirely without concern. Raphinha was forced off with an injury before the break, giving Brazil a fresh fitness issue ahead of its final group-stage match against Scotland in Miami Gardens.
Ancelotti had faced criticism after Brazil’s opening draw, with questions surrounding both his lineup choices and the team’s lack of attacking sharpness. This time the response was immediate. Brazil created chances early, moved the ball with greater purpose and punished mistakes from a Haitian side that struggled to cope with the pace of Vinicius and Cunha.
A crowd of 68,324 watched Haiti’s World Cup hopes come to an end. The Caribbean nation, appearing in its first World Cup since 1974, became the tournament’s first eliminated team after suffering a second straight defeat.
For Brazil, the bigger takeaway may not be the scoreline. The national team has spent years searching for a reliable No. 9 capable of leading its attack on the biggest stage. On Friday night in Philadelphia, Cunha delivered the strongest case yet that the search could finally be over.
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