Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 overnight to finish top of Group 3 and advance to the next round of the 2026 World Cup. After a shaky opening against Morocco, Carlo Ancelotti’s team looked sharp again, led by Vinicius Junior, but the night’s biggest moment came in the 76th minute when Neymar finally returned to the national team after his long absence. Brazil does not yet know its next opponent.
Vinicius scored twice and reached four goals at this World Cup. He became only the fifth Brazil player ever to score in all three group-stage matches, joining Jairzinho in 1970, Romario in 1994, and Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002. Brazil won the World Cup in each of those tournaments. Vinicius also now has seven goals in 13 matches under Ancelotti, more than double his total before the Italian coach arrived, when he had six goals in 39 appearances. Matheus Cunha added Brazil’s third goal and now has three in the tournament; between them, he and Vinicius have scored all of Brazil’s goals so far.
Neymar came off the bench after 981 days since his previous appearance for Brazil. He was playing in his fourth World Cup and admitted afterward, “I was emotional.” Brazilian and international media highlighted his return, noting that he played centrally with freedom to drift left, as Ancelotti planned, and showed good passes and shooting attempts as he gradually regains fitness after a month and a half without football.
The match also produced an emotional moment for Mexico. Guillermo Ochoa, who announced last week that he is retiring from football, was handed a symbolic farewell after being included in the squad out of respect. In the 78th minute, with Mexico leading 2-0 and already assured of a perfect group-stage record, he replaced Rangel to applause, was lifted on his teammates’ shoulders after the final whistle, and shed a tear.
