Brazil 3-0 – Brazil crushed Scotland 3-0 in Group C, with Vinicius Junior scoring twice after an error from Scott McKenna and Matheus Cunha adding a third. Ian Wright later blasted Scottish football chiefs for “letting the country down,” as Scotland wait to learn if they’v
The morning in North America after Brazil’s 3-0 demolition of Scotland felt less like a victory lap and more like a test that Scotland might not pass.
Vinicius Junior struck twice, taking his tournament tally to four goals. The first came seven minutes after a woeful error from Scott McKenna. and Matheus Cunha made it 3-0 as Brazil kept their momentum rolling. Neymar also returned from the bench to much fanfare, making his first appearance for Brazil in 981 days.
For Scotland, the damage was immediate and brutal. They finished third in Group C on three points with a -3 goal difference. and their World Cup hopes now hang in the balance. They remain in limbo until the early hours of Sunday. waiting to see whether they’ve sneaked through as one of the best eight third-placed teams—an awkward position for fans planning their trips. because the matchday excitement has turned into uncertainty.
Ian Wright did not hide his anger afterward. Accusing Scottish football chiefs of “letting the country down. ” Wright said the situation goes deeper than what happens on a Sunday afternoon. He referenced Steve Clarke’s post-match mood—Clarke walked out of his first post-match interview with BBC Sport before returning later with more measured. but equally gutted. thoughts. Wright’s message was sharper, grounded in football realities rather than sentiment.
“Laurent asked me the other day what Scotland can do next. and I think it goes a lot deeper than that. ” Wright said. He then pointed to Scotland’s commercial setup and matchday numbers, comparing them with Norway. “When you look at Norway. a country the same size as Scotland. they’re averaging six or seven thousand in attendances on a weekly basis. Scotland are averaging 16 thousand.”.
Wright added: “But Norway have managed to secure a broadcast deal worth £25 million more a year than Scotland’s. Obviously, they’ve got a better commercial operation than Scotland.”
He argued that the country’s “raw materials” are there—“amazing attendances. talent. storylines. grassroots participation”—but claimed someone is failing to convert it into a bigger vision. “Someone in Scotland is letting down this country on a massive scale,” he said. “People are very proud of them all over the world, but they’ve got to do more. There’s got to be a bolder, braver vision for Scottish football.”.
That quote lands with particular weight because Scotland never looked like winning while Brazil were buoyed by Neymar’s return off the bench.
The rest of the overnight World Cup slate delivered plenty of storylines of its own, and several groups are now set for sharply defined final-day dynamics.
In Group C. Morocco needed a turnaround to beat Haiti 4-2 and finish second in the group. level on points with Brazil. Haiti scored their first World Cup goal in 52 years when Lenny Joseph’s strike bounced off Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and went in as an own net. Achraf Hakimi leveled, and Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor then scored the pick of the bunch to re-establish Haiti’s lead. But Ismael Saibari pegged Haiti back again before late goals from Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassime sealed victory. Morocco now face the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden in the last 32.
Group B’s night had its own pull: Switzerland beat Canada 2-1 to seal top spot. with Johan Manzambi again emerging as the breakout name. Joy for his supporters, despair for the club-market noise around him. Manzambi came off the bench to bag a brace in a 4-1 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina and then helped Switzerland in Vancouver with a goal and assist in the 2-1 win over Canada. His admirer list includes Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. Canada. though. will look back at what they could have had: they knew that anything other than a Switzerland win would have put them top of the group. keeping them in Vancouver for the last-32 and last-16 if they advanced.
In Group A, Mexico stayed perfect with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic. Their start has been clean-cut: maximum points and no goals conceded in their group games. With top spot already secured after their second match victory. Mexico rotated and gave a breakthrough moment to teenager Gilberto Mora. At 17 years and 253 days. Mora became the sixth-youngest player in history to start a men’s World Cup match. and the youngest ever to do so for Mexico. He provided the assist for Mexico’s second goal and received a standing ovation after being substituted in the second half. The Czech Republic ended bottom of Group A with one point from their three games.
South Africa’s 1-0 win over South Korea delivered a different kind of relief. Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute goal sent South Africa through to the knockout rounds for the first time in their history. and they finished second in Group A. They will face Canada on Sunday in Los Angeles in the last 32. South Korea’s night carried its own snapshot of frustration: Son Heung-min was left on the bench for the first time in 13 World Cup games. and his replacement—Hwang Hee-chan—was swapped out at the break. South Korea are now set for an anxious wait to see if they qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
And Bosnia & Herzegovina’s 3-1 win over Qatar decided more than bragging rights. Kerim Alajbegovic was so confident about his future he said he does not mind which club he joins next—“as long as it is Real Madrid or Barcelona.” Bosnia finished the group with four points. surely enough for a last-32 spot. while Qatar head home. After Alajbegovic’s first-half strike, an own-goal from Sultan Abrake made it 2-0. Hassan Alhaydos restored hope for Qatar, before substitute Ermin Mahmic extinguished it in the closing stages.
Elsewhere across the tournament narrative, the day’s World Cup attention wasn’t all football. A “View from the Ground” piece from Ian Herbert focused on an entirely different kind of memory—Elm Street in Dallas marking the assassination of John F Kennedy with two crosses. and the words he was due to deliver engraved on a commemorative stone. Herbert wrote that the words “carry greater resonance than ever. amid the chaos of the second presidential term of Donald Trump. ” tying sport’s global reach to a wider sense of history and unease.
Off the pitch, celebrity watch added its usual sparkle. David Beckham watched Scotland against Brazil after sipping a glass of red wine in Miami heat that reached 31C at kick-off. wearing a designer suit despite the sweat. He was accompanied by his son Cruz. former Manchester United and England team-mate Phil Neville. and singer Jackie Apostel. Cruz’s girlfriend. Gerard Butler, from Paisley, was also in the stands, choosing a full Scotland kit.
There was a viral moment too: Lionel Messi was “woken up” by Argentina teammates for impromptu celebrations on his 39th birthday. Messi had apparently been snoozing in a full Argentina kit; his pals arrived singing. clapping. and presenting gifts before he posed for a photograph with the team alongside a “delicious-looking cake.” With Argentina already through and set to play Jordan in their final group game on Sunday. he reportedly didn’t look miffed by the intrusion on his sleep schedule.
Even the “Stat of the Day” came with a kind of cold steadiness: Brazil have finished top of their group for 12 consecutive World Cups.
What comes next is already set to feel sharper because the final-day permutations are now in motion.
Today’s slate begins with Curacao vs Ivory Coast in Group E at 9pm in Philadelphia on ITV. Ivory Coast are expected to progress to the knockout stages for the first time in their history. while Curacao—described as the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup—need a shock win. The details are stark: Curacao are only on one point with a -6 goal difference. Their goalkeeper. Eloy Room. made a record-breaking 15 saves to earn a point against Ecuador. and will likely face another backs-against-the-wall test against Ivory Coast. Liverpool target Yan Diomande. who plays on the left wing for Ivory Coast. will hope to notch his first World Cup goal.
Ecuador vs Germany follows at 9pm in New Jersey on BBC. Germany are already through, a huge relief after blunders in 2018 and 2022, which gives them the option to rest players. Ecuador, however, are playing for progression after a draw and a loss. Manager Sebastian Beccacece. having guided them through a South American qualifying run that included eight 0-0 draws. will be under pressure for the dark horses to progress for only the second time in their history.
Then Tunisia vs Netherlands in Group F at midnight in Kansas City on BBC: the Netherlands are all-but through. Only a heavy defeat by Tunisia, plus a Sweden win over Japan, would consign them to the third-placed lottery. Tunisia are already out and have changed managers again. Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after losing 5-1 to Sweden, then Herve Renard arrived and was battered 4-0 by Japan. Renard, a World Cup regular, will hope for a strong finish to help sustain his future job prospects.
Japan vs Sweden in Group F at midnight in Arlington on BBC should be one of the most intriguing matchups of the tournament so far. even with the possibility of caution. Japan are on four points, Sweden on three, and both sides may choose conservatism. The theme is defense and control: Sweden took a lashing off the Dutch and will be desperate to tighten up. while Japan will test themselves against Alexander Isak. Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga.
Turkey vs USA in Group D at 3am tomorrow in Los Angeles on ITV carries less immediate pressure for the Americans: the United States have finished top of Group D and will face an unspecified third-placed finisher in the last-16. Turkey are already out after two disastrous losses. The question with Turkey is simple and brutal—can they score?. They combined for 62 shots against Australia and Paraguay and didn’t score any. Mauricio Pochettino can become the first USA manager ever to win three World Cup games with them. and could also mark the first time the USA have won three consecutive games in the tournament.
Paraguay vs Australia at 3am tomorrow in Santa Clara on ITV could decide who trusts their depth. with injuries to Mat Leckie and Jacob Italiano affecting Australia’s build-up after they started in the 2-0 loss to the USA. Both teams enter with three points, and a point could be enough for progression. Paraguay. with a goal difference of -2. will feel more anxiety. particularly if they are pushed into dangerous counters against a team from Down Under.
And later. Norway vs France in Group I at 8pm tomorrow in Foxborough on ITV brings the Golden Boot chase to the front. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland both have four goals, and this is the shoot-out people will circle. Both teams are through, so the match may offer a chance to road-test rather than risk marquee names with injuries.
Senegal vs Iraq in Group I at 8pm tomorrow in Toronto on ITV is last-chance saloon for both sides. Win and they stick a chance; lose and they are done. Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw is under pressure, amid a ‘civil war’ with the federation over non-payment. The squad has talent, and the target is to recreate the heroics of 2022, when Senegal reached the quarter-finals. Iraq will take hope if they can secure their first-ever World Cup point.
For Scotland, though, the overriding feeling from this overnight round is simple: the football was unforgiving, the margins were cruel, and the next verdict is now out of their hands.
World Cup Brazil vs Scotland Ian Wright Vinicius Junior Scott McKenna Matheus Cunha Neymar Morocco vs Haiti Switzerland vs Canada Mexico vs Czech Republic South Africa vs South Korea Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar