Keen to secure first place in Group C of the World Cup, Brazil achieved their goal with a 3-0 victory over Scotland.
If the classification at the top of the group could depend on the goal difference, the team did not spare any balls in the net on Wednesday night (24), at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens.
It was a calm game for the team led by Carlo Ancelotti. The marking in the attacking field worked, which gave Vinicius Junior two goals in the first half – he reached four in the competition. After the break, in a well-worked play in the middle, Matheus Cunha found the net.
With the game under control, in the team’s most convincing performance so far in the United States, the coach responded to the public’s requests and called on Neymar in the 31st minute of the final stage.
The 34-year-old star, who hadn’t been on the field wearing the yellow shirt for almost three years, tried to participate in passing exchanges up front and managed a shot, without danger.
The team thus finished its bracket with 7 points. Morocco, who beat Haiti 4-2, advanced in second, with fewer goals, and Scotland will probably go home, with 3 points and a negative goal difference of four goals, which seems insufficient for one of the places offered to the eight best third-placed teams.
Brazil will play again next Monday (29), at 2pm (Brasília time), in Houston, in the knockout stage, against the second placed team in Group F.
The key at the moment has the Netherlands in first place, with 4 points, with an advantage over Japan only in terms of goals scored. Sweden has 3 points. This Thursday (25), the duels Tunisia x Netherlands and Japan x Sweden will define the situation.
Group A
South Africa achieved its first victory in the 2026 World Cup, 1-0 over South Korea, and secured its place in the 32-team stage on Wednesday night (24), in Monterrey (MEX).
It is the first time that Bafana Bafana have reached the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Korea, on the other hand, has 3 points and has a chance to continue in the competition as third place, which will be defined after all group games.
The South African goal was scored 17 minutes into the second half by Maseko, after several failed attempts since the start of the duel.
Despite the party, the South Africans will have a difficult duel in the next phase, when they will face co-hosts Canada, second in Group B, in Los Angeles, on Sunday, at 4pm (Brasília time).
In the other duel in Group A, another host of this World Cup, Mexico, was already classified in first place, but took no notice of the Czech Republic at the Azteca stadium and won 3-0, reaching 9 points, with 100% success, to the delight of the fans in Mexico City.
In last place, with just 1 point, the Czechs say goodbye to the World Cup.
Chávez, Quiñones and Fidalgo scored Mexico’s goals. In the second half, coach Javier Aguirre paid tribute to goalkeeper Ochoa, placing him on the field at 31 minutes. It is the sixth World Cup played by the 40-year-old goalkeeper.
Group B
Group B opened the third and final round of the World Cup group stage, this Wednesday (24), and ended with Switzerland and Canada advancing to the knockout stage.
The Canadians join the tournament’s co-hosts, Mexico and the United States, also classified in the next round, and will compete in their first knockout stage at the World Cup.
The two bracket matches were played simultaneously. Switzerland beat Canada 2-1 and took the lead in the group. Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Qatar 3-1, which was not enough to take second place from the Canadians.
Bosnia finished with 4 points in the group and secured a place in the first round as one of the best third-placed teams. Qatar, in turn, ends its participation in the World Cup.
