Day three of the FIFA World Cup 2026 was supposed to be Brazil's night. But Morocco had other plans.
At MetLife Stadium, the five-time world champions were frustrated in the first half by a well-organised Moroccan side before Vinicius Junior produced a moment of quality to level the match.
In Vancouver, meanwhile, Australia delivered the day’s biggest shock, beating a Turkey team that many expected to do well in this tournament.
Both Group C and Group D had exciting opening games on Day Three. Here's a breakdown of what happened.
3. Vinicius Junior Rescues Brazil Against Morocco
Brazil walked into MetLife Stadium as the clear favourites against Morocco, the African team that surprised the world by reaching the semi-finals four years ago in Qatar.
For much of the first half, Morocco were the better team, forcing mistakes from the five-time world champions before Brahim Diaz slipped a clever pass through for Ismael Saibari, who calmly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Brazil needed to respond fast, and their star player delivered. Vinicius Jr, who had been quiet up to that point, played a quick passing move with Bruno Guimaraes, then beat Morocco's star defender Achraf Hakimi one-on-one before firing the ball into the far corner of the net.
That goal, beating a top defender like Achraf Hakimi before finishing with confidence, proved to be the turning point for Brazil. The second half was more controlled, with Brazil dominating the midfield and limiting Morocco’s chances.
Brazil's Raphinha had a good chance late in the game, but his shot went straight at Morocco's goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou. The final score was 1-1. Neither team got the start they wanted, but for Morocco, taking a point off Brazil is still a good result.
2. Scotland Make The Perfect Start Against Haiti
While all the attention was on Brazil and Morocco, Scotland quietly made the biggest impact in Group C. Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 to move to the top of the group, with John McGinn scoring in the 28th minute after finishing a rebound from a saved Che Adams effort.
Haiti had periods of possession but struggled to break through the Scottish defence. For Haiti, playing at their first World Cup in over 50 years, this was a strong performance against a team many expected to beat them easily.
For Scotland, a clean sheet and three points is a great way to start, especially with tougher games against Morocco and Brazil still to come.
1. Australia Deliver The Tournament's Biggest Shock
If Brazil's draw with Morocco dominated the headlines, , Australia's win over Turkey was the day's biggest surprise.
Australia delivered the day's biggest shock, beating Turkey 2-0. They scored early through a quick counter-attack, finished off by Nestory Irankunda in the 27th minute, then defended well to hold onto their lead.
Irankunda's goal showed real pace, skill, and confidence in front of goal, against a team full of experienced players. Australia's win came from a strong counter-attacking performance, with Irankunda using his speed to beat Turkey defender Merih Demiral before calmly finishing into the bottom corner.
Turkey, with new player Arda Guler making his World Cup debut, tried to fight back, but Australia held strong. Australia doubled its lead in the 75th minute when Connor Metcalfe scored from outside the box, and they held on for the win.
Metcalfe's second goal was a brilliant long-range strike, putting Australia second in their group, behind only the USA on goal difference.
Read More: FIFA World Cup 2026 Day Two Recap: Balogun Makes USMNT History as Canada Earn Landmark Point
Day Three By The Numbers
1-1: The final score between Brazil and Morocco at MetLife Stadium, one of the most-watched games of the day.
45 Minutes: How long Morocco controlled the game before Vini Jr's goal changed everything.
2-0: Australia's winning score against Turkey, the biggest surprise result of the World Cup so far.
27th Minute: When Nestory Irankunda scored Australia's opening goal with a fast counter-attack.
3 Points: What both Scotland and Australia earned on Day Three, putting them both second in their groups, behind only the USA.
