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MIAMI: Five-time World Cup champions Brazil clinched first place in World Cup Group ‘C ‘ on Wednesday after defeating Scotland 3-0 in Miami, topping the group on goal difference from second-placed Morocco, who secured their passage after battling to a 4-2 win over Haiti in Atlanta.
Brazil advanced to the knockout stages in style after Vinicius Jr netted twice while Neymar also made his first appearance in a Brazil shirt in three years.
The victory came at a full house in Miami Stadium where 64,478 fans watched Carlo Ancelotti’s side top the group with seven points while Morocco finished second with a 4-2 win over Haiti.
Vinicius has scored in every game so far and the 25-year-old has four goals in the tournament to find himself in elite company, going level with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland while he sits one goal behind Lionel Messi.
The Scots were left ruing a shaky defensive display as Brazil cruised to a comfortable win. Vinicius scored twice for Brazil, pouncing on a horrendous blunder by Scott McKenna to fire the South Americans ahead in the seventh minute.
The Real Madrid striker then nodded in Brazil’s second in first-half stoppage time before Manchester United striker Matheus Cunha added a third in the 60th minute. Brazil’s win also saw coach Carlo Ancelotti give veteran striker Neymar his first appearance of the tournament, the Selecao’s all-time leading scorer coming on as a second-half substitute.
Scotland had little to show in attack and Alisson remained a rock in goal, denying them one last chance in the dying minutes as Brazil kept a clean sheet.
Ancelotti hailed Vinicius Junior as “one of the best players in the world” after the Real Madrid forward continued his excellent form.
“I had no doubts about how he would be coming into this World Cup,” said Ancelotti of the 25-year-old, who has four goals in three games at this year’s tournament. “For him it is an honour to play for the national team. He is playing well and he even scored a header, which is very rare for him.
“I knew all about what Vini could do. He is one of the best players in the world,” added Ancelotti.
Meanwhile, Scotland coach Steve Clarke accepted that his team may be heading home from the World Cup in a few days after completing the group stage.
“It was a disappointing performance, a poor result. If you give a team like Brazil the chances like we gave them, you expect to get puniushed,” Clarke said after defensive errors helped Vinicius net twice in the first half.
“That is what happened and as for our chances at the moment, I think we are probably going home.”
Scotland, who have been hoping to reach the knockout rounds at a World Cup for the first time after eight previous failed attempts, finish third in Group ‘C’ with three points.
MOROCCO SURVIVE HAITI SCARE
Meanwhile on Wednesday, Morocco confirmed their progress to the last 32 but twice had to come from behind to get the better of plucky Haiti in an action-packed game and fell short of topping Brazil in the Group C standings.
Morocco finished level on seven points with Brazil and will play the Group ‘F’ winners, Netherlands, Japan or Sweden, on Monday in the first knockout round.
Haiti, the first side eliminated from the 48-team tournament after losing their second group game, went ahead early thanks to an own goal, but African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi equalised in the 39th minute.
Wilson Isidors thunderbolt restored Haitis lead in the 43rd but the match was soon level again as Ismael Saibari scored his third goal in as many World Cup appearances.
It took until the 78th minute for Morocco to take the lead when substitute Soufiane Rahimi thrashed the ball home from close range after Haiti failed to clear a corner and 20-year-old Gessime Yassine made it 4-2 in the last minute.
“It was a crazy game, too many goals but we are really delighted to qualify for the next round and now we have to keep going,” said Hakimi. “Haiti were already out of the competition but showed great spirit and made us suffer but in the end we did it.”
Haiti had only pride to play for but made Morocco work for their victory and despite losing all three games at the tournament — their first in 52 years — will depart with their reputation enhanced.
“We were up against a quality team and I hope we gave our fans something to relish,” said Haiti coach Sebastien Migne. “We have to keep working hard to come back again four years from now.”
Published in Dawn, June 26 , 2026
