2026 FIFA World Cup — Group C, Matchday 2 | June 20 | MetLife Stadium, New York
NEW YORK — In the 12th minute, Vinicius Junior picked up the ball on the left flank. He faced the Haitian right-back, performed a step-over, and accelerated. The defender was left behind. Vinicius cut inside and slotted a right-footed finish into the far corner.
1-0.
In the 31st minute, Raphinha swung in a corner. Marquinhos rose above the crowd and thundered a header into the net. 2-0.
In the 55th minute, Vinicius had the ball again. This time he was outside the box, facing two defenders. He shifted the ball laterally, then unleashed a curling shot that flew into the top right corner. 3-0.
In the 78th minute, substitute Endrick collected a pass in the box, turned, and fired home. 4-0.
Brazil played with the ease of a team that knows it is superior. Haiti fought with everything they had. But the gap in quality was as tall as the MetLife Stadium stands.
Vinicius: A Ballon d’Or Statement
Vinicius Junior’s performance was nothing short of dominant.
Two goals. Every touch sent panic through the Haitian defence. His dribbling on the left was unstoppable — not because of sheer speed, but because he never lets you guess what he will do next. Step-over, feint, sudden stop, explosive acceleration. His arsenal is too deep. Haiti’s defenders could only take the hits one by one.
These were Vinicius’s third and fourth goals of this World Cup. Two matches, four goals. He is telling the world, with every touch of the ball: the Ballon d’Or is coming.
Haiti: Courage, But the Gap Was Too Wide
Haiti are one of the lowest-ranked teams at this World Cup. They lost 2-0 to Scotland in their opener. Nobody expected them to beat Brazil. Nobody even expected them to score.
But they did not give up.
Haiti had 28% possession. Four shots. Zero on target. But every defensive action was a battle. Goalkeeper Johny Placide made seven saves, at least three of them world-class. Defenders threw their bodies in front of shots, blocking Brazilian efforts again and again.
The 4-0 scoreline looks brutal. But if you watched the match, you would leave with respect for Haiti. They were not here to make up the numbers. They simply ran into an opponent far too powerful.
Group C Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 6 |
| 2 | Scotland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 3 | Morocco | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
| 4 | Haiti | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
Match Details:
- Brazil 4-0 Haiti
- Venue: MetLife Stadium, New York, USA
- Goals: Vinicius Jr 12′, 55′, Marquinhos 31′, Endrick 78′
- Man of the Match: Vinicius Junior (Brazil)