Striker Matheus Cunha should act as a reference in Brazil’s attack in the duel against Haiti this Friday (19), in the second round of Group C of the 2026 World Cup. After the 1-1 draw with Morocco in the debut, the Seleção needs to win at Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia, starting at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), and the player appears as an important piece to hold the ball, pivot and finish.
Matheus Cunha, in good form, arrives at the clash with confidence. In the first match, he participated and showed physical strength. Against Haiti, the center forward needs to explore the aerial game, provide precise pivots to Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha and be present in the area to convert chances.
Casting and role of Matheus Cunha
Brazil (4-2-3-1):Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Douglas Santos; Casemiro (or Fabinho), Bruno Guimarães; Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Vinícius Júnior; supporting center forward.Technical:Carlo Ancelotti.
Haiti (4-4-2):Placide; Arcus, Adé, Delcroix, Expérience; Jean Jacques, Bellegarde, Providence, Deedson; Pierrot, Isidor.Technical:Sébastien Migné.
The Brazilian attack, with Matheus Cunha as the central reference, seeks presence in the area and links with the wingers. The striker stands out for his physical strength, mobility and finishing ability — ideal qualities to overcome the Haitian low block, which has Bellegarde as its main organizer.
Without Neymar, with a calf injury, the team depends on Matheus Cunha to fix the opposing defense and create spaces for his teammates. He can be the man in goal who opens the scoring or serves as a pivot for Vinícius Júnior’s plays.
Recovery in Group C
The victory puts Brazil back in the fight for classification. Scotland leads, Morocco is second and Haiti is at the bottom. Matheus Cunha, with his physical presence, helps maintain possession in the offensive field and put pressure on the opposing defense.
Carlo Ancelotti has trusted the striker to centralize offensive actions. A good performance by Matheus Cunha could be decisive for Brazil to produce a convincing victory and regain confidence.
Where to watch live
The match will be broadcast on TV Globo, SBT (open TV), SporTV, NSports (closed TV), ge TV, CazéTV (YouTube), Globoplay and Prime Video.