World Cup 2026: USA march into playoffs, Brazil break records as early exits begin
Brazil secure first World Cup 2026 win (photo: x.com/BrasilEdition)
Another matchday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially determined the second team to reach the knockout stage. At the same time, two teams lost even their theoretical chances of advancing from the group after the night matches.
Group D: hosts' triumph and controversial "Vinícius rule"
USA – Australia – 2:0
Goals: Burgess, 11 (own goal), Freeman, 42
Turkey – Paraguay – 0:1
Goal: Galarza, 2
Red card: Almirón (Paraguay), 45+3 (straight red)
The United States confidently defeated Australia. With this win, the Americans reached 6 points and secured first place in the group early. For the US team, this marks their fourth consecutive qualification for the World Cup knockout stage in tournaments they have participated in.
In the other match of the group, Paraguay narrowly defeated Turkey 1–0. The only goal came as early as the 64th second, scored by Matías Galarza, marking the fastest goal of the current tournament.
The game was also marked by a controversial sending-off: late in the first half, Paraguayan winger Miguel Almirón received a straight red card following a VAR review. He was dismissed for covering his mouth with his hand during an argument with an opponent. This became the first high-profile application of the so-called "Vinícius rule," introduced by FIFA to combat covert racist abuse on the pitch. Despite playing with ten men throughout the second half, Paraguay held on for the win.
A second consecutive defeat officially sends Turkey out of the tournament. As a result, the final group-stage match between the USA and Turkey has become a formality for both teams.
Group D standings:
USA – 6 points (goal difference 6:1)
Australia – 3 (2:2)
Paraguay – 3 (2:4)
Turkey – 0 (0:3)
Upcoming matches:
June 26
5:00 a.m. Australia – Paraguay
5:00 a.m. Turkey – USA
Group C: Brazil's historic scoring run and Haiti's collapse
Brazil – Haiti – 3:0
Goals: Cunha, 23, 36; Vinícius Júnior, 45+3
Scotland – Morocco – 0:1
Goal: Saibari, 2
In Group C, Brazil left no chance for Haiti, cruising to a 3–0 win. The match was effectively decided within the first half thanks to a brace from Matheus Cunha and a goal from Vinícius Júnior.
The result allowed "Seleção" to rewrite several World Cup records. With their goals, Brazil surpassed Germany in total World Cup goals, reaching 240. In addition, it was the 41st time in World Cup history that Brazil have scored at least three goals in a single match, an all-time record.
The defeat also ended Haiti’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage, as the team lost even its mathematical chances of advancing.
In the parallel match, Morocco secured a narrow 1–0 victory over Scotland. The African side claimed all three points thanks to a lightning-fast goal from Ismaël Saibari in the 2nd minute of the game. The Europeans pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages and appealed for a penalty, but Morocco held firm to secure the win.
Group C standings:
Brazil – 4 points (goal difference 4:1)
Morocco – 4 (2:1)
Scotland – 3 (1:1)
Haiti – 0 (0:4)
Upcoming matches:
June 25
1:00 a.m. Brazil – Scotland
1:00 a.m. Haiti – Morocco
Previously, we reported how Canada's historic rout brought the 2026 World Cup back to the era of the first World Cup.
