Matheus Cunha scores 2 goals as
Brazil eliminates Haiti from World Cup with 3-0 win
[June 20, 2026]
By DAN GELSTON
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Matheus Cunha struck the back of the net and
struck a pose, bringing scoring — and a dash of surfing — to the
World Cup stage for Brazil.
Vinícius Júnior scored and assisted on 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 imagine that, it can 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 first time since 1974, became the first team
guaranteed not to reach 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 expected to return from a right calf
injury and play for Brazil next week against Scotland in its final
group match. Neymar, Brazil’s career scoring leader with 79 goals,
missed the first two games.
Brazil got plenty of scoring punch from Cunha on Friday.
The Manchester United standout got the start and showed with every
surf-and-slide goal celebration why he should have been in the
starting lineup in Brazil's listless 1-1 draw against Morocco.
Ancelotti made the surprising decision in the opener to instead
insert Cunha as a late substitute.
Cunha thrilled the Brazilian fans who made up the bulk of the 68,324
spectators at Lincoln Financial Field when he tapped in a rebound
for his first career World Cup goal. He then sent a left-footed
strike into the upper left corner for a 2-0 lead in the first half
against the overmatched Haitians.
Brazil forward Raphinha, who was subbed out with an injury in the
first 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 home of the two-time Super Bowl champion
Philadelphia Eagles — whose cheerleaders did their part to rally the
crowd.
Haitian fans danced and sang “Grenadye Alaso” (“Grenadiers to the
Attack”), the traditional battle cry of the national team.
Brazilians chanted back with reminders that their country is a
five-time World Cup champion and the home 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 nearly 6,000
Brazilian immigrants, when he flashed his familiar surfing
celebration.
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Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide reaches for the ball during the World
Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia,
Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Vinícius, whose 32nd-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 extended both arms as if
trying to catch some tasty waves and was mobbed his teammates.
Vinícius slid a pass through the defense to find
Cunha and he powered one high into the net that Placide never had a
chance to stop to make it 2-0. Cunha slid on his stomach on the
Kentucky bluegrass and mimicked a swimming motion that all but put
Haiti in the drink — and validated the Brazilians’ fans decision not
to 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 keep
Brazil — seeking its first World Cup title since 2002 — happy before
it closes Group C play with Neymar expected in the lineup against
Scotland on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
“He’s a very important player; he’s my idol,” Vinícius said. “He
always gave me tons of support. And we just hope he can play the
next 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 field was also in a better condition, so we were able
to do our soccer.”
For Haiti, just making the World Cup for the first time in 52 years
was a satisfying accomplishment.
“What was positive was that we didn’t give up,” coach Sébastien
Migné said. “The morale was there for the second half. They showed
that they deserved to be here at the World Cup. Unfortunately, today
we played against Brazil. There was too much of a gap.”
___
Associated Press writer Luis Andres Henao contributed to this
report.
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