World Cup Day 9: United States Advances, Brazil Rebounds in Style

The ninth day of the 2026 World Cup saw four second-round matches, with the United States, the tournament’s main host, becoming the first team to secure a place in the round of 32. The Americans beat Australia 2-0, Morocco continued its strong start with a 1-0 win over Scotland, Brazil responded to its opening draw with a convincing 3-0 victory over Haiti, and Turkey will meet Paraguay in a matchup between two opening-round losers.

The United States took control early against Australia when Cameron Burgess scored an own goal in the 11th minute. Alex Freeman settled the result with a close-range header. It was the first time since 2002 that the U.S. has won more than one match in a World Cup tournament, the year it reached the quarterfinals. Australia, which had stunned Turkey 2-0 in the first round, now must get a good result against Paraguay in the final group match to stay alive.

Morocco followed up its 1-1 draw with Brazil by beating Scotland through a fourth-minute goal from Ismail Saibari, who had also scored against Brazil. The match then turned into a tight, physical battle, and Morocco’s 1-0 win puts it very close to the next stage, with Haiti still to come. For Scotland, the loss leaves the group picture complicated because goal difference now works against it.

Brazil entered under pressure after drawing Morocco and was also without Neymar, who the Brazilian federation said was not fit to play. The answers came quickly against Haiti: Matheus Cunha, of Manchester United, scored twice in the 23rd and 36th minutes, and Vinícius added a third in first-half stoppage time after assisting the second goal. It was Carlo Ancelotti’s first-ever World Cup win as a coach, but Brazil still has not clinched advancement and needs a strong result against Scotland in the final round. Turkey and Paraguay are set to meet at 06:00 in Santa Clara, in a game that could eliminate the loser.