Brazil showed glimpses of their vintage class but also fresh worries as they beat Haiti 3-0 at Philadelphia’s Lumen Field, a result that secured a first clean sheet and respite after an earlier 1-1 draw with Morocco. Matheus Cunha struck twice and Vinícius Júnior added a smart finish before halftime to put the Selecão in control, while legendary Ronaldinho watched from the stands and thousands of yellow-clad fans filled the stadium.
The win gives Brazil four points from two games and keeps them on course for the last 32, but their second-half drop-off and defensive lapses remain a concern for manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Brazil’s fast start included two clinical Cunha finishes and Vinícius’s composed strike, but the team produced no shots on target after the break and looked unusually flat despite facing Haiti, who sit more than 80 places below them in FIFA rankings. Haiti’s late pressure seven shots to Brazil’s two in the second half underlined how the match swung from comfortable to nervy, and highlighted the Selecão’s inconsistency so far in Group C.
Ancelotti defended the performance as “a good match,” praising the first-half intensity while acknowledging room for improvement. He hinted at tactical flexibility up front, praising Cunha’s movement and leaving the centre-forward decision open for the next group game against Scotland in Miami. Neymar’s inclusion in the squad was a talking point: the 34-year-old, absent since October 2023 with a calf issue, did not travel to Philadelphia but Ancelotti confirmed Neymar will train and is expected to be available for Scotland a development that could sharpen Brazil’s attack.
Brazil also suffered a potential injury blow when Raphinha, their leading World Cup qualifier scorer, was withdrawn in the 40th minute; the team will assess his fitness in the coming days. On a brighter note, 19-year-old Endrick made his World Cup debut as a second-half substitute and received a standing ovation, though his impact was limited and a goal was disallowed.
Statistically, Brazil’s win added to their rich World Cup legacy: it was the 41st time they’ve scored three or more goals in a match, and the victory moved them past Germany to become the tournament’s top all-time scorers with 241 goals. Still, with rivals Argentina and France impressing elsewhere, Brazil will be judged on whether they can sharpen their defence and rediscover sustained attacking fluency. Their next test against Scotland will offer clues about Ancelotti’s evolving tactics and whether Brazil can produce the consistently dominant performances their fans expect.
