Brazil Cruise Past Scotland as South Africa and Canada Make History

Brazil headlined the night at the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Scotland in Group 3, strengthening talk of a sixth title and keeping alive its chase for a first crown since 2002. Vinicius Junior scored twice in the first half, first in the seventh minute after a Scottish defensive error and then with a header just before halftime from a Bruno Guimaraes cross. Matheus Cunha added the third in the 60th minute after beating the goalkeeper. Neymar came off the bench for his first Brazil appearance in three years and his first national-team match since October 2023.

The result kept Brazil perfect in the group stage and extended a remarkable run, as it has finished first in every World Cup group stage since 1982. Vinicius became only the fifth Brazilian ever to score in all three group games at a single World Cup, joining Jairzinho, Romario, Rivaldo and Ronaldo. Brazil now moves on toward the knockout rounds, while Scotland must wait for the rest of the results to see if it advances.

Morocco also advanced, finishing second in Group 3 after a tense 4-2 win over already-eliminated Haiti in Atlanta. Haiti led twice, through an own goal by Yassine Bounou and a long-range strike by Wilson Isidor, but Morocco responded through Achraf Hakimi, Ismail Saibari, substitute Sofiane Rahimi and, in stoppage time, Jassim Yasin, who scored his first senior international goal after a Rahimi assist.

The biggest history came in the other groups. South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 to reach the knockout stage for the first time ever, with Thapelo Maseko scoring in the 63rd minute. That result, combined with Mexico's 3-0 win over Czechia, sent South Africa through in second place and set up a round-of-32 meeting with Canada on Sunday at 22:00. Canada also qualified for the knockout stage for the first time, despite a 2-1 loss to Switzerland, which advanced for a fourth straight World Cup. Bosnia beat Qatar 3-1 as 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic starred, while Edin Dzeko, Hassan Al-Haydos and substitute Armin Hamzic also scored.