Morocco moved a step closer to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Ismael Saibari’s lightning-fast strike secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Scotland, while five-time champions Brazil revived their campaign with an emphatic 3-0 triumph over Haiti in Group C action on Friday.
Saibari, the PSV Eindhoven star reportedly attracting interest from Bayern Munich, stunned the Scots just 72 seconds after kickoff at the Boston Stadium, netting what has become the fastest goal of the tournament so far.
The early breakthrough proved decisive as Morocco held firm against Steve Clarke’s side, who dominated periods of the second half but failed to find a way past the resolute Atlas Lions defense.
Despite appeals for penalties and a spirited late push, Scotland lacked the cutting edge needed to salvage a point, leaving their hopes of reaching the next round hanging in the balance.
The victory lifted Morocco into a strong position in Group C ahead of their final group fixture against Haiti.
Elsewhere in Philadelphia, Brazil rediscovered their rhythm with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti to reignite their World Cup ambitions.
Matheus Cunha starred for the Seleção with two first-half goals, while Vinicius Junior added a third before the interval to seal the points for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Although Brazil eased off after the break, the victory propelled the South Americans to the top of Group C and restored confidence after their earlier setback.
Haiti, spirited but outclassed, suffered another defeat and are now eliminated from the competition.
Attention now turns to the decisive final round of Group C fixtures, where Brazil will face Scotland and Morocco will take on Haiti, with places in the knockout stage still up for grabs.
With Saibari making history and Brazil rediscovering their scoring touch, Group C remains one of the most compelling storylines of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
