Matchday 9 in Photos: FIFA World Cup 2026 Highlights

Matchday 9: A Visual Recap

The FIFA World Cup 2026 continued with matchday 9, producing a series of memorable moments captured by photographers. From passionate fans to historic victories, the day's fixtures delivered drama and emotion across the tournament.

USA Fans and Players Shine

Two USA fans dressed as bald eagles posed ahead of their side's match against Australia, embodying the patriotic spirit of the home crowd. On the pitch, Alex Freeman led his teammates after netting the second goal in USA's qualification-clinching win, securing their spot in the knockout stages.

Brazil's Acrobatics and Celebrations

Matheus Cunha deployed his trademark surfing celebration after scoring for Brazil against Haiti, while Danilo made an acrobatic clearance to preserve Brazil's clean sheet. The Seleção's defensive resilience kept Haiti at bay throughout the match.

Paraguay's Historic Victory

Matias Galarza was mobbed by teammates after opening the scoring for Paraguay against Türkiye just 64 seconds into the match—the fastest goal of the World Cup 2026 so far. Paraguay went on to become the first team in 12 years to win a World Cup match while playing a man down for the entire second half, a result that eliminated Türkiye from the tournament.

Other Notable Moments

Ismael Saibari celebrated netting the winning goal against Scotland at Boston Stadium, while fans watched on as Lewis Ferguson swung in a corner for Scotland. The array of images from matchday 9 captures the intensity and passion of the world's biggest football event.