The Brazilian national team regained its form—and, with it, its dominance. Spurred on by a brilliant Matheus Cunha and Vinícius Júnior’s ability to break down defenses, the five-time world champions defeated Haiti 3-0 on Friday night in Philadelphia, securing a vital victory and sealing the Caribbean team’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
Matheus Cunha’s Redemption
The star of the night was Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha. After a lackluster 1-1 draw against Morocco in their opener, where coach Carlo Ancelotti made the surprising decision to bench him and bring him on late in the game, Cunha started and proved on the field why he deserves his spot in the starting lineup.
Cunha sent the crowd into a frenzy when he tapped in a rebound to score the first World Cup goal of his career. Minutes later, he completed his brace with a superb left-footed strike straight into the top left corner, giving the Seleção a comfortable 2-0 lead before halftime. His euphoric celebrations, sliding across the grass, spread to the sea of yellow that filled the stands.
The Vinícius Factor and Concerns Over Raphinha
Vinícius Júnior orchestrated the offense, contributing a goal and a key assist on Cunha’s strike to seal the final 3-0 score.
However, it wasn’t all joy for the South American side. During the first half, winger Raphinha had to leave the field due to an injury, moments after the referee disallowed an early goal of his for offside, which momentarily silenced the festive atmosphere at the Philadelphia Eagles’ home stadium.
A Battle of Chants and Haiti’s Farewell
Lincoln Financial Field was a veritable cauldron with 68,324 spectators. Haitian fans showed unconditional love for their team, dancing and singing at the top of their lungs “Grenadye Alaso” (Grenadiers to the Attack), their traditional battle cry. In response, the Brazilian fans showcased their historic legacy by paying tribute to their greatest idol: “A thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals! Only Pelé, only Pelé!”
The result marks a bittersweet ending for Haiti. The Caribbean nation, which had qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, officially became the first team mathematically eliminated from advancing to the knockout stage.
