World Cup 2026 Group C permutations: Brazil need only avoid defeat, Scotland must win
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
The decisive third round of matches in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to begin. Two games will be played simultaneously on the night of June 25:
Morocco vs Haiti
Scotland vs Brazil
Both matches will kick off at 01:00 Moscow time.
Ahead of the final round, three teams are still fighting for direct qualification to the Round of 32. Brazil and Morocco both have 4 points, while Scotland have 3. Haiti remain without a point after two defeats.
Group C table before the third round
- Brazil — 4 points, goal difference +3
- Morocco — 4 points, goal difference +1
- Scotland — 3 points, goal difference 0
- Haiti — 0 points, goal difference -4
What Brazil need
Brazil only need to avoid defeat against Scotland to qualify for the knockout stage. A draw would guarantee that Brazil finish above Scotland and advance to the Round of 32.
If Brazil win by a large margin, they will almost certainly keep first place in the group. Ahead of the final round, Brazil have the best goal difference among the group leaders.
What Morocco need
Morocco will face Haiti and are clear favourites in this match. A victory would guarantee Morocco a place in the knockout stage, while a favourable result in the parallel game could even see them finish top of the group.
A draw may also be enough for Morocco if Scotland fail to beat Brazil. If Morocco and Brazil finish level on points, goal difference will become crucial. Brazil currently have a two-goal advantage.
What Scotland need
Scotland need only one result for direct qualification to the Round of 32: a win over Brazil. In that case, Scotland would move to 6 points and overtake one of the group leaders.
A draw could also be a strong result for Scotland. With 4 points, they would finish third and have a good chance of being among the best third-placed teams.
However, a defeat would almost certainly leave Scotland with little hope of reaching the knockout stage. Eight of the twelve third-placed teams will advance to the Round of 32, and 3 points with a negative goal difference may not be enough.
Haiti without tournament motivation
Haiti enter the final round without points and with almost no chance of continuing their World Cup campaign. They will face Morocco and try to finish the group stage with a respectable result.