World Cup 2026 Group C is starting to get very real and Brazil are in action immediately after Morocco moved clear at the top with a win against Scotland.
Brazil, on paper, have a terrific chance to overtake Morocco straight away. Haiti were beaten by Scotland in their first World Cup match since 1974 and have never won a point at the finals.
The Grenadiers getting anything out of Brazil today would be a huge shock but one man in a green shirt in the middle of the pitch could have a say.
Referee appointment for Brazil vs Haiti
Today's second Group C fixture is being officiated by the exquisitely named Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez – Alejandro Hernandez, to you – from Spain.
He has been FIFA-listed since 2014 and is regarded as one of Spain and indeed Europe's best referees.
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43-year-old Hernandez is a leading referee in La Liga, where he's been taking charge of matches since 2012.
He has been called up for his second World Cup in 2026. In Qatar four years ago he was at the tournament as a video assistant referee, a function he performed in the notorious 'Battle of Lusail' quarter-final between the Netherlands and Argentina.
Hernandez was the referee for 19 matches in La Liga in the 2025-26 season and produced a total of 102 yellow cards. He flashed straight red cards to six players, sending someone off on average every 285 minutes.
He also awarded a penalty more often than every other match in the league but was less eager to give spot kicks or dish out yellow cards during his five matches in the Champions League.
In Europe's premier club competition in 2025-26, Hernandez gave exactly one yellow card in each match and gave one penalty, for PSV against Liverpool in November.
Hernandez's assistants in Philadelphia are Jose Enrique Naranjo Perez and Diego Sanchez Rojo, both from Spain. Fourth official Sandro Scharer is from Switzerland.
The VAR is Carlos del Cerro Grande, another Spaniard.
