Day 9 belonged to the favourites — but not quite in the way the script suggested. The USA clinched Group D without their captain. Brazil finally looked like Brazil. And Morocco buried Scotland's tournament with a goal so early most of Foxboro had not yet found their seats. Here is every result that mattered on June 19.
USA 2, Australia 0 — through without Pulisic
Christian Pulisic did not start. He did not come off the bench. The knock from Sunday's win over Paraguay needed another seven days, Mauricio Pochettino decided, and the captain watched the second half from the dugout. None of it mattered. A first-half own goal off an Aziz Behich slide, then a sweetly headed second from Alex Freeman after a Tim Ream knockdown, settled it well before the interval. Australia barely managed a shot on target.
Combined with Türkiye's earlier loss to Paraguay, the result mathematically locked the USA into top spot in Group D with a group game to spare. The Lumen Field crowd sang the final ten minutes through. A home-soil knockout berth, achieved early, is exactly the springboard the federation wanted from this tournament. Whether Pulisic returns for the final group match against Türkiye is the next question.
Brazil 3, Haiti 0 — Vinícius and Raphinha do the work
Carlo Ancelotti made one change from the Morocco draw, restoring Bruno Guimarães to the midfield, and Brazil immediately looked more themselves. Vinícius Júnior opened the scoring on 24 minutes with a low drive after a Raphinha cut-back. Raphinha himself added the second from the spot after Rodrygo was felled in the area. Endrick, on as a 70th-minute substitute, smashed a third off the underside of the bar from 18 yards to make the final margin look comfortable.
Haiti can be proud of a tournament debut that included two performances of real spirit. They are eliminated mathematically on goal difference once Group C plays its final fixtures, but the 80-minute resistance against Scotland and the disciplined block for the first 24 minutes here both said the right things about a programme that did not exist at this level four years ago.
Morocco 1, Scotland 0 — Saibari five seconds, then a wall
The clip will live forever. Ismael Saibari spun off Andy Robertson at the kick-off, latched onto a Hakim Ziyech flick, rounded Angus Gunn and rolled it home before the stopwatch in the press box had registered six seconds. The fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup so far. Foxboro was still filing in. Steve Clarke was still standing in his technical area straightening his cuffs.
From there it was Morocco managing the game with the maturity they showed at Qatar 2022. Achraf Hakimi locked down the right. Sofyan Amrabat broke up every Scottish surge in midfield. John McGinn found pockets but never quite the final ball. Scotland's first knockout-round appearance, so plausible 48 hours ago, now requires a Brazil win over Morocco on the final matchday plus a Scotland win over Haiti — and a swing in goal difference.
What it means for the bracket
- Group D is settled at the top: USA are through as winners. Australia and Paraguay are level on three points, fighting for second with Türkiye still alive on goal difference math.
- Group C is a coin flip: Brazil and Morocco are level on four. Their head-to-head was 1-1, so the final matchday tiebreaker is goal difference, then goals scored.
- Scotland's dream isn't dead — but it now needs other results. Beat Haiti by three, hope Brazil beat Morocco, and the maths sneaks them through.
Three numbers from the day
6 — seconds for Saibari's opener, the fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup. 2 — clean sheets in two for the USA, the first time the men's team has opened a World Cup with consecutive shutouts since 1930. 0 — minutes played by Christian Pulisic on Friday, and almost certainly his last 0 of the tournament if the medical staff has anything to say about it.
What's next
Saturday's slate is Group E and Group F. Germany vs Ivory Coast in Toronto is the headliner, with Netherlands-Sweden opening the afternoon and Ecuador-Curaçao closing it out under the lights in Kansas City. For the full June 20 preview, head to the Scorelisto blog. For live tables and scores all weekend, today's soccer fixtures has you covered.
FAQ
Did the USA clinch Group D outright? Yes. Türkiye's loss to Paraguay earlier in the day combined with the USA's win to lock up first place with one group fixture left.
Why didn't Pulisic play? Pochettino confirmed afterwards that the captain had not fully recovered from the knock he took against Paraguay. The plan now is to have him available for the round of 32.
How is Group C decided if Brazil and Morocco draw their finals? If both win or both draw their last fixtures and finish level on points, head-to-head was 1-1, so it goes to overall goal difference, then total goals scored.
When do Group C and D teams play their final matches? Thursday, June 25. Brazil vs Scotland and Morocco vs Haiti close Group C; USA vs Türkiye and Australia vs Paraguay finish Group D.