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Cunha assists winner as Brazil reach World Cup
Wednesday 11 June 2025 10:30
Matheus Cunha helped Brazil qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, setting up the only goal in a decisive 1-0 win at home to Paraguay.
The exciting playmaker – who is set to join United from Wolves after an agreement was reached between the clubs – showed notable anticipation and pace to intercept the ball high up the pitch before getting to the byline and keeping his composure to send a low pass across the goal, which Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior converted with a first-time finish on the stroke of half-time.
Matheus played 79 minutes in the same midfield as his new club team-mate Casemiro, who completed the entirety of the clash in Sao Paolo. Fellow Red Antony was an unused sub.
The win was Carlo Ancelotti’s first as Brazil boss and secured the Selecao’s place at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and United States, keeping up the five-time winners’ run of reaching every finals in the tournament’s illustrious history.
Ugarte, and former Red Facundo Pellistri, also celebrated victory overnight.
Elsewhere in South America, Uruguay also took a big step towards joining Brazil in the north of the continent next year, after beating Venezuela 2-0 at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario.
United midfielder Manuel Ugarte played 90 minutes, as goals from Club America striker Rodrigo Aguirre and Flamengo midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta – in a four-minute period either side of the break – took them to within a point of the 2026 finals.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men have got two games left to get what they need in September and currently sit fourth in the South American table that six nations qualify automatically from, a place behind Brazil.
Earlier in the evening, Christian Eriksen – who will depart Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of June – took his Denmark goal tally up to 46 with the second of his country’s five in their 5-0 friendly win over Lithuania.
Eriksen also teed up San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer to complete the scoring in the 62nd minute, after Monaco man Mika Biereth, Anderlecht forward Kasper Dolberg and Frankfurt full-back Rasmus Kristensen had all been on target.
United’s Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, like Christian, featured from start to finish, while Rasmus Hojlund was introduced in the closing stages.
Altay Bayindir’s Turkey were also in friendly action in the early hours of Wednesday morning UK time, but the Reds goalkeeper only had a watching brief as his nation were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Mexico in North Carolina.
It brings a close to the June international action involving our players, who are now set for some time off over the summer before returning to the club for pre-season.
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Wednesday 11 June 2025 10:30
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