By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Brazil produced a commanding display to secure a comfortable victory over Haiti, while Morocco stunned Scotland and the United States maintained their perfect start with a win over Australia as four matches lit up the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday.
The day’s action, spread across Groups C and D, saw Brazil, Morocco, the United States and Paraguay emerge victorious, with each side strengthening its chances of reaching the knockout stage of football’s biggest tournament.
Five-time world champions Brazil underlined their title credentials with a convincing 3-0 triumph over Haiti. The South Americans controlled possession from the opening whistle and converted their dominance into goals, leaving the Caribbean side still searching for its first point of the tournament.
The victory moved Brazil closer to securing a place in the Round of 32 and set up a mouth-watering final group encounter against Scotland.
Earlier, Morocco recorded one of the notable results of the day by defeating Scotland 1-0 in a tense Group C encounter. The North Africans displayed discipline and resilience to frustrate the Scots, who had opened their campaign with a victory over Haiti but failed to build on that momentum.
In Group D, co-hosts the United States continued their impressive form with a 2-0 victory over Australia. Backed by enthusiastic home support, the Americans dominated large periods of the match and moved within touching distance of the knockout phase after collecting their second consecutive win.
The Merit Newspaper acknowledges that Paraguay also boosted its qualification hopes with a narrow 1-0 victory over Turkey. The South Americans capitalized on their opportunities in a closely contested affair, leaving Turkey under pressure ahead of the final round of group matches.
Friday’s results added another layer of intrigue to the tournament, with qualification scenarios beginning to take shape as the group stage entered its decisive phase.
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Brazil’s attacking flair, Morocco’s tactical discipline, the United States’ consistency and Paraguay’s resilience highlighted the growing competitiveness of the expanded 48-team World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With the race for places in the knockout rounds intensifying, fans across the globe can expect more drama, surprises and memorable moments in the days ahead.
