USA clinch Group D as Morocco and Brazil secure first wins on World Cup Day 9

The United States became the second team to clinch their group at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, topping Group D after defeating Australia and benefiting from Turkey’s surprise loss to Paraguay. Morocco and Brazil also recorded their first victories of the tournament on Day 9.

USA vs. Australia

The win over Australia was the USA’s second consecutive victory at this World Cup, making them only the second time in history the U.S. has won two group-stage matches in a single tournament. It is also just the second time the Americans have won back-to-back men’s World Cup matches overall — the first since their opening two games at the inaugural 1930 edition.

The USA also became the first team in World Cup history to benefit from an own goal in two consecutive matches. Christian Pulisic was absent for the fixture; the U.S. record without him since his 2016 debut now stands at 44 wins, 16 draws and 15 losses, compared to 45 wins, 16 draws and 26 losses when he plays.

Defender Chris Richards continued to impress, completing 97.8% of his passes across his first two World Cup appearances — 175 of 179 — the second-best accuracy on record since 1966 among players with at least 100 passes in their first two matches, behind Romania’s Gheorghe Popescu in 1994, according to Opta.

Scotland vs. Morocco

Morocco made it six unbeaten games in World Cup group-stage football, defeating Scotland to extend a run that stretches back to June 2018. Ismael Saibari was the standout performer, scoring inside the opening two minutes — the fastest goal in Morocco’s World Cup history — to become the first Moroccan player ever to score in consecutive World Cup matches. He is also only the second African player to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances, joining Mohamed Salah.

Morocco’s dominance was underlined by their passing statistics: the Atlas Lions completed 601 passes against Scotland, the most by an African team in a World Cup match since records began in 1966, per Opta. Scotland, meanwhile, have now won just one of 13 World Cup matches against African opposition.

Brazil vs. Haiti

Brazil ended their winless start to the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium. The result extended a remarkable streak: Brazil have now won at least one of their first two matches in each of the last 13 World Cup editions. It was a much-needed response from a side that had been under pressure following a difficult opening to the competition.