Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.
Brazil have been handed a significant fitness boost following concerns over the availability of star winger Raphinha. The Barcelona forward underwent medical examinations on Saturday morning after being forced off during the Selecao's victory over Haiti.
PHILADELPHIA -- Matheus Cunha proved his credentials up front, and Vinicius Jr had a hand in all three goals as Brazil found their stride at the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Haiti. The Real Madrid winger was at his devastating best, scoring and assisting, and has the Selecao well-positioned to top Group C. Haiti, for all of their efforts, are eliminated from the tournament in their first appearance since 1974.
Brazil have long inspired Haiti through its darkest moments. Now Les Grenadiers meet them on the World Cup stage aiming to prove they belong, not just admire.
Brazil have officially confirmed that Neymar will play no part in their upcoming World Cup fixture against Haiti, with the superstar forward set to remain behind while his teammates travel to Philadelphia. The Santos man is still working his way back to full fitness, and the Selecao medical staff have decided against taking any unnecessary risks with their talisman.
Brazil are facing the prospect of navigating the entire World Cup group stage without Neymar as the medical staff prioritises his long-term fitness. The Selecao talisman is battling to recover from a significant muscle injury, with coaching staff now focusing on a return for the knockout rounds.
John McGinn was the hero in Boston as Scotland finally ended their 36-year wait for a World Cup victory with a gritty 1-0 win over Haiti. The Aston Villa star remains the talisman for Steve Clarke’s side, netting the decisive goal to put the Scots in pole position in Group C - and revealing the pre-match vow that fueled his fearless performance.
FIFA has announced a significant protocol modification that will see every squad member take part in the pre-match national anthems at the upcoming World Cup. Moving away from traditional sporting custom, football's global governing body has mandated that both starting line-ups and substitutes congregate together on the pitch ahead of kick-off.
Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood endured a bittersweet evening in Fort Lauderdale as he officially became the most-capped player in New Zealand men's football history. However, the veteran striker's record-breaking night against Haiti was completely overshadowed by a shambolic performance from the All Whites.
Haiti
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