Brazil Triumphs Against Haiti in World Cup Match

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Matheus Cunha scored twice and celebrated with style, lifting Brazil to a decisive win over Haiti in their World Cup encounter. Vinícius Júnior contributed with a goal and an assist, leading Brazil to a 3-0 victory that ended Haiti’s hopes of advancing in the tournament.

Cunha expressed his joy, saying, “To be at a World Cup… it’s a dream fulfilled.” Haiti, appearing in the World Cup for the first time since 1974, became the first team in the expanded 48-team tournament to be eliminated from the knockout stage. Brazil needed this commanding performance.

“It was what I expected from this match,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti. He announced that Neymar, sidelined with a right calf injury, is expected to return for Brazil’s final group match against Scotland. Neymar has scored 79 goals in his career with Brazil but was absent for the first two matches. Cunha filled the gap with a strong showing.

Cunha’s performance captivated the Brazilian fans among the 68,324 spectators at Lincoln Financial Field. His first goal came from a rebound, and he followed it with a powerful strike into the upper corner, giving Brazil a 2-0 lead over Haiti. An early goal by Raphinha was disallowed, dampening the fans’ spirits temporarily. Yet, the yellow-clad supporters soon recovered, chanting and celebrating, with the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders adding to the lively atmosphere.

Haiti’s fans displayed spirit, singing their team’s battle cry “Grenadye Alaso,” while Brazilian fans celebrated their soccer legacy with chants of “A thousand goals” in homage to Pelé. Cunha’s iconic surfing celebration added to the festive mood among the 6,000 Brazilian immigrants residing in Philadelphia.

Vinícius played a crucial role, providing an assist to Cunha for his second goal and closing the half with a goal of his own. This strong performance has bolstered Brazil’s campaign to capture their first World Cup title since 2002. With Neymar’s return, Brazil aims to continue its journey in Group C, facing Scotland next in Miami Gardens, Florida. “He’s a very important player; he’s my idol,” Vinícius said of Neymar. “We hope he plays the next game and helps us win the World Cup.”

Brazil now shares the group lead with Morocco, while Scotland trails by one point. Vinícius noted the team felt less pressure and performed better in improved field conditions compared to their previous match.

For Haiti, participation itself was a notable achievement after a 52-year absence. Coach Sébastien Migné acknowledged the team showed resilience and deserved to compete at this level. “Today we played against Brazil. There was too much of a gap,” he admitted.

___ Associated Press writer Luis Andres Henao contributed to this report. ___