Mateus Cunha scored both goals for Brazil in a 2-0 victory over Haiti at the 2026 World Cup, helping the Seleção secure their first win of the tournament. Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation and first to qualify since 1974, became the first team guaranteed not to reach the knockout rounds; Cunha’s performance, particularly his first career World Cup goal, drew praise from coach Carlo Ancelotti, who noted the forward’s impact on Haiti’s defense.

Cunha’s key role in Brazil’s victory

Cunha, who plays for Manchester United, was a standout in the match. He opened the scoring by tapping in a rebound for his first goal of the tournament and then added a second with a left-footed strike into the top left corner. His celebrations. A surf-and-slide. Delighted the large Brazilian fan contingent among the 68,324 spectators at Lincoln Financial Field.

Coach Ancelotti had initially started Cunha as a substitute in Brazil’s previous 1-1 draw against Morocco but decided to start him against Haiti; “For this game, Mateus Cunha’s position was the right position to create problems for their defense,” Ancelotti said. “He moved well, he was on the end of through balls. He could be a solution.” Ancelotti added that he might change his lineup for the next game.

Early disallowed goal and Haitian spirit

Brazil forward Raphinha had a goal disallowed in the first half due to an offside call, briefly dampening the atmosphere for the yellow-clad Brazilian supporters. However, the festive mood returned quickly, with the crowd — including cheerleaders from the two-time Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, maintaining energy throughout the match.

Haitian fans, despite the loss, showed their spirit by singing “Grenadye Alaso” (“Grenadiers to the Attack”), their traditional battle cry. Haiti’s elimination is a bitter end for a team that had overcome significant challenges to reach the World Cup for the first time in over 50 years.

Broader World Cup context

Brazil’s win came on the same day as other key matches. Canada’s Ismael Kone missed the rest of the tournament after undergoing major leg surgery, Spain’s Lamine Yamal said it was “very early, unnecessary” to play a full match, and hosts the United States beat Australia 2-0 to secure a spot in the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Morocco’s Youssef Saibari scored the fastest goal of the tournament in a 2-1 win over Scotland.

For Brazil, the victory was a necessary confidence boost after their earlier draw with Morocco. Cunha’s double has positioned him as a key player in the team’s forward line moving forward, though Ancelotti hinted at potential lineup changes for the next match.