World Cup 2026: The Gold-Green Machine Gets Rolling

Tens of thousands of yellow-and-green fans turned the area around Lincoln Financial Field into a mini version of Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, bringing singing, dancing, and the vibrant colors characteristic of Brazilian football.

Joy truly erupted in the 23rd minute when Matheus Cunha put the ball into Haiti's net, opening the scoring for Brazil after two celebrations were cut short by disallowed goals for offside. The stands immediately shook with chants of "Brazil! Brazil! Brazil!" from fans eager for a more convincing performance after the draw with Morocco in their opening match.

Given a starting spot by coach Carlo Ancelotti in place of Igor Thiago, Cunha did not disappoint his mentor. The striker, currently playing for Manchester United, became the biggest highlight in Brazil's attack. Before the opening goal, the South American team had been playing quite stagnantly, not showing the explosive performance fans expected.

Meanwhile, Haiti, despite being considered much weaker, entered the match with great confidence. The Caribbean side proactively pushed their line up, repeatedly setting offside traps, and did not hesitate to build up play against the five-time world champions. This caused Brazil considerable difficulty in the opening minutes.

Contrary to the expectations of many fans who wanted to see prodigy Endrick start, coach Ancelotti made only two changes to the starting lineup compared to the match against Morocco. Danilo replaced Ibanez in defense, and Cunha was chosen in attack. That adjustment quickly paid off. In the 35th minute, Cunha completed his brace with a decisive finish, making it 2-0. Vinicius's third goal just before halftime effectively crushed any resistance from Haiti and marked the moment when the Brazilian machine truly began to run smoothly.

In the second half, Brazil created more opportunities but could not increase the lead. The defense occasionally made fans' hearts race with some lapses in concentration. Nevertheless, the 3-0 victory was a result that accurately reflected the balance of power between the two teams.

The three points against Haiti are not enough to confirm that Brazil has reached peak form, but this performance shows positive signs after an unsatisfactory start. With just two personnel changes, Selecao's attacking power improved significantly, and Ancelotti is likely to maintain this core for the final group stage match against Scotland. However, the Italian coach still has a problem to solve: Raphinha's injury. The Barcelona star had to leave the field early, and his availability for the Scotland game remains uncertain. If Raphinha cannot play, Ancelotti will have to find a new solution for Brazil's attacking flank.

Before this match, Ancelotti stated he wanted Brazil to play with the "rhythm of Carnival." In reality, the yellow-and-green team is still far from that explosive image. However, what happened against Haiti shows the team is on the right track. The introduction of Endrick from the 60th minute to replace Cunha also opened up additional tactical options for Brazil. With Raphinha potentially unavailable, this young talent or Gabriel Martinelli could become important assets in the next match.

Brazil has secured its first victory at the 2026 World Cup. More importantly, they are beginning to show signs of a team hitting their stride under strategist Carlo Ancelotti – the highest-paid coach at this World Cup (nearly $10 million per year). The gold-green machine has started up, and expectations for this title contender are growing with each match.