Brazil seek to extend their unbeaten World Cup record against Scotland, while Vinícius Júnior chases history in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 clash.

Brazil aim to continue Scotland dominance as World Cup history beckons

Brazil will look to maintain their impressive World Cup record against Scotland when the two sides meet for the fifth time on football’s biggest stage. The fixture is one of the tournament’s longest-running rivalries, having previously been contested in 1974, 1982, 1990 and 1998, with only Argentina’s meetings with the Netherlands occurring more often since 1974.

After a goalless draw in their first World Cup encounter in 1974, Brazil have won the next three meetings, including a 2-1 victory in France in 1998. Scotland have never defeated Brazil in 10 international matches, managing just two draws and suffering eight defeats.

Scotland’s struggles against South American opposition have also continued at the World Cup, with the Scots still searching for their first competitive win against teams from the continent after eight previous attempts.

Brazil, however, will be hoping for a sharper attacking display. The five-time world champions have managed just 20 shots across their opening two matches of the 2026 tournament—their lowest average per game at a single World Cup since records began in 1966.

Much of Brazil’s attacking threat has come from Vinícius Júnior, who has scored in both group matches and has been directly involved in six goals in his last five appearances for the national team. A goal against Scotland would see him join an elite group of Brazilian greats to score in each of the team’s three group-stage matches at a World Cup.

For Scotland, midfielder Lewis Ferguson has been a standout performer, leading his team in tackles, interceptions and duels won, while defender Jack Hendry has completed the most passes.

Adding another layer of intrigue, Neymar’s first-ever brace for Brazil came against Scotland in a 2-0 friendly victory at the Emirates Stadium in London in 2011, highlighting another memorable chapter in a rivalry that Brazil have long dominated.

South Africa Make World Cup History with Win Over South Korea

Monterrey: South Africa created a memorable chapter in their football history by defeating South Korea 1-0 to qualify for the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

The decisive moment came in the second half when Thapelo Maseko displayed remarkable composure inside the penalty area. Taking a clever touch onto his left foot, the South African forward calmly fired his shot through the legs of defender Jens Castrop and into the near corner, sending the South African supporters into celebration.

The victory lifted South Africa to second place in the group, behind Mexico, and secured their place in the Round of 32. They will now face Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST.

For South Korea, the defeat leaves their qualification hopes hanging by a thread. Their only remaining chance of progressing is to finish among the tournament’s best third-placed teams.

The match itself offered few moments of attacking brilliance. South Africa adopted a disciplined defensive approach, allowing South Korea to dominate possession before looking to strike swiftly on the counter-attack. While the Asian side controlled much of the ball, they struggled to create meaningful opportunities in the final third.

South Africa, in contrast, looked far more dangerous whenever they broke forward and ultimately deserved their winning goal. Their well-organised defence frustrated South Korea throughout the contest, limiting them to only a handful of chances, including an early effort from Lee Kang-in and a tame header from Oh Hyeon-gyu.

An unusual source of noise inside the stadium came from the large contingent of Mexico supporters, who celebrated updates from their team’s simultaneous victory over the Czech Republic, a result that also shaped the final group standings.

The win marks a historic milestone for South African football. Before this tournament, the nation had not appeared at a FIFA World Cup since hosting the competition in 2010. In each of their previous World Cup campaigns, South Africa had finished third in the group stage. This time, however, they have broken that barrier and advanced to the knockout rounds for the first time, keeping alive hopes of an even more memorable World Cup journey.