* Brazil top Group C ahead of last match on Wednesday against, Scotland, who have 3 points having beaten Haiti 1-0 in opener
* While Morocco take second spot sharing 4 points with Brazil whom they drew 1-1 with in first match
Maravi Express
Brazil eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti to take them to the top of Group C but sharing 4 points with Morocco, beat Scotland 1-0 and are separated by goal difference.
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Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in their opening while Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 — thus keeping themselves race open for the group ahead of the final knockout stage qualifying matches on Wednesday.
Played in Philadelphia, Matheus Cunha kick-started Brazil’s World Cup campaign by scoring twice in the match that coach Carlo Ancelotti’s side needed a response after drawing with Morocco.
Ancelotti’s decision to drop Brentford striker Igor Thiago for Cunha paid off as the Manchester United forward forced in a deserved opener in the 23rd minute, turning home a rebound from Vinicius Junior’s saved effort although the forward was fortunate the goal stood after accidentally kicking defender Hannes Delcroix as he deflected the ball over the line.
But there could be no doubts over Cunha’s second strike that he superbly smashed in high at the near post with his left foot as he fell away off balance before Vinicius Junior rolled in a third during stoppage time to cap Brazil’s impressive first-half performance.
The only negative for Brazil was winger Raphinha being forced off in the 40th minute with an apparent hamstring injury. The Barcelona forward later had an ice pack strapped to the back of his right leg.
Bournemouth’s Rayan replaced Raphinha, with Neymar still yet to return from a calf problem, while teenager Endrick made his World Cup debut in the second half, having a goal ruled out for offside as Brazil eased off.
At Boston Stadium, Ismael Saibari’s 2nd minute goal secured Morocco a hard-fought the victory when he finished a clever pass from Brahim Diaz that split the Scottish defence.
The Moroccan forward ran beyond the back line, controlled the ball inside the area and powered a right-footed effort past Angus Gunn into the roof of the net.
It proved to be the decisive moment of the contest and a historic one for Morocco as Saibari’s goal was the fastest of the 2026 World Cup so far and also Morocco’s quickest ever goal at the tournament.
Saibari almost scored again in the 10th minute after a fine cross from Ounahi, while Achraf Hakimi forced Gunn into a save with a powerful effort in the 18th minute.
Morocco continued to create chances, with Neil El Aynaoui failing to direct his effort on target after a Diaz delivery in the 30th minute.
El Khannouss also had a golden opportunity to extend the lead in the 36th minute, but his shot went over the crossbar.
Saibari came close to a second goal in the 50th minute when his deflected effort struck the crossbar after El Khannouss had broken down the left and delivered a dangerous low cross.
Saibari was named Player of the Match after another decisive World Cup performance and he also became only the second African player to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances, after Egypt’s Mohamed Salah did so against Russia and Saudi Arabia in 2018.
For Morocco, this was a different type of victory from the draw against Brazil. It was less about statement football and more about control, concentration and resilience.
After two matches, the Atlas Lions have shown they can compete with one of the tournament favourites and also grind out a result against a physical European side.
Their final group match against Haiti now offers them a major chance to secure qualification for the knockout stage.
For Scotland, the defeat is a setback, but their opening win means they remain in contention.
For Morocco, however, the message is clear: the team that made history in Qatar is again showing it belongs on the World Cup stage.—Reporting by Sky Sports News & CAFonline; editing by Maravi Express
Group stage results
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Czech Republic 1-2 South Africa
Mexico 1-0 South Korea
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Canada 6-0 Qatar
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
Brazil 3-0 Haiti
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Australia 2-0 Turkiye
USA v Australia
Turkiye v Paraguay
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador
Germany 7-1 Curacao
Group F
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Group G
Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Group H
Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
Group I
France 3-1 Senegal
Iraq 1-4 Norway
Group J
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Austria 3-1 Jordan
Group K
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia
Group L
England 4-2 Croatia
Ghana 1-0 Panama
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