World Cup 2026 Day 3: Group C Recap

Group C kicked off on day 3 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and featured two teams breaking long-time tournament appearance droughts, a 2022 Semi-finalist, and the most successful nation in World Cup history, all looking to start their campaign on a high note. 

General view inside the stadium before the match

Pawel Kopczynski

World Cup Group C - Matchday 1

Brazil 1 - 1 Morocco

The marquee matchup on Day 3 was a clash between Group C's favorites to take the top two spots in Morocco, the first African team ever to reach the competition's Semifinal (2022), and Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil, which entered the tournament looking to add a 6th star above its crest. 

Morocco came out of the gates ready to play, flashing two warning signs to Brazil’s defense in the early goings with a shot from near the top of the box by Neil El Aynaoui, which was blocked by a defender, and a tough-angled shot from Achraf Hakimi, which skittered just wide of the far post. 

Then, in the 21st minute, Morocco caught Brazil's defense out in transition when Brahim Diaz collected the ball around the midfield line and sent Ismael Saibari a long pass towards goal between Brazil's two centerbacks. 

Saibari got onto the ball just outside the box with a defender on each side and Alisson coming off his line to close down the angle, and with nowhere to go and no time to waste, Saibari chipped the ball over the Brazilian goalkeeper's head and watched it bounce into an open net, giving his side an early 1-0 lead at the World Cup. 

Morocco's Ismael Saibari scores their first goal

CAEAN COUTO

Morocco started the game well and took the lead with the opening goal, but their lead lasted just 11 minutes before Brazil equalized.  In the 32nd minute, a Bruno Guimarães pass found Vinícius Júnior inside the box to Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou's right. 

Vini Jr headed towards the end-line with the ball on his left, cut back to his right to shake the defender, and immediately fired an absolute bullet into the far side of the net to draw things level for Brazil in Carlo Ancelotti's first World Cup match at the helm. 

Brazil's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates

VINCENT CARCHIETTA

Brazil had chances to win this game, but Morocco's goalkeeper kept them frustrated. Lucas Paquetá tested Yassine Bounou with an overhead volley just before halftime, which bounced off the surface and required a focused save from the Moroccan keeper. Igor Thiago got a good opportunity after a quick throw-in caught Morocco's defense off-guard, but Bounou was attentive to the situation and made the save once again.  

Late in the game, Bounou was called on once again when Raphina got an opportunity to unleash a shot on net from inside the box, but the Brazilian didn't catch it as cleanly as he'd like, and Bounou was able to collect the ball easily to make the save and secure a point for his side in the opening match of the tournament. 

Scotland 1 - 0 Haiti 

General view inside the stadium before the match

Pilar Olivares

The 2nd match of Group C on Day 3 featured two teams breaking long-time World Cup appearance droughts. The Tartan Army, supporters of Scotland who are making their first trip to the World Cup since 1998, showed up in Boston, MA, in numbers to back their team’s first game on the World’s Stage in 28 years.  

Lining up across from them is another great story in team Haiti, who are playing in their first World Cup since 1974 and qualified while playing all their games away from home due to political unrest and violence in their home country. They too had a strong contingent of fans inside the stadium in Foxborough, MA - though definitely not anywhere as large as the Tartan Army's. 

Scotland's John McGinn celebrates scoring their first goal with Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson

Brian Snyder

For local soccer fans here in Philadelphia, they may have recognized a name on the team sheet for team Haiti last night, as midfielder Danley Jean-Jacques became the first active member of the Philadelphia Union to start in a FIFA World Cup match for his country.

Just making it back to the World Cup is a massive achievement in itself for Haiti, especially given the circumstances they've had to do it under. But getting back to the World Cup was a big feat and a long journey for the Scottish as well, and the Tartan Army were rewarded for their travels to North America in the  29th minute when Super John McGinn fired a shot towards net, watched it deflect off a Haitian defender, and sailed into the back of the net to score Scotland's first goal at the World Cup in 28 years and to give the Tartan Army a first-half lead. 

Scotland's Lawrence Shankland in action with Haiti's Danley Jean Jacques, Hannes Delcroix and Louicius Deedson

DAVID BUTLER II

Despite going down early, Haiti didn't lie down and had multiple chances to equalize. In the 34th minute, Frantzdy Pierrot got an opportunity from close range after Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn left a rebound on the doorstep, but he was able to recover and make the save just before Pierrot could fire the loose ball into the net.

In the 73rd minute, Ruben Providence sent a ball across the face of the goal and towards the back post, but it was just out of reach for a stretched-out Wilson Isidor. And then in the 85th minute, it looked like Haiti got the chance they needed to score their first goal at the World Cup in 50 years and draw themselves level, but Frantzdy Pierrot's header on a beautiful cross into the box glanced just wide of the far post, ending Haiti's hopes of snagging a point from the opening match. 

Day 3, Group C, Round-up:

Morocco and Brazil played to a hard-fought 1-1 draw, leaving them 2nd and 3rd, while the Tartan Army will soak up top spot in the Group for the time being after their 1-0 win over Haiti.  The game against Scotland was Haiti's best chance at getting points from Group C, but their performance proved that they're more than capable of hanging with European sides on the World's Stage and will look to continue to prove their belonging against two major powerhouses in Brazil and Morocco in the following two Group Stage matches. 

As for who tops Group C, at the moment, it's anyone's for the taking!