Brazil produced a first-half demolition to dispatch Haiti 3-0 in Philadelphia and seize control of Group C, eliminating the Caribbean nation and banishing the frustration of an opening-day draw. Matheus Cunha, restored to the starting line-up by Carlo Ancelotti, forced home a rebound in the 23rd minute and fifteen minutes later cracked a left-footed shot into the top corner after Vinícius Júnior sliced open the Haitian defence. Vinícius then ran onto a floated Lucas Paqueta pass deep into stoppage time and slid the ball under goalkeeper Johny Placide to complete the scoring before the interval.

The early exchanges briefly offered Haiti hope. Raphinha saw a goal disallowed for offside in the 12th minute and miscued another chance, but once Cunha pounced on the loose ball created by Vinícius’s parried effort, the five-time champions relaxed. The second and third goals exposed the gulf in class: Brazil’s quick transitions consistently found space behind a backline that had started compact but was repeatedly unpicked. A sobering moment arrived shortly before the break when Raphinha pulled up clutching his right hamstring and was replaced by teenager Rayan, leaving the Barcelona winger in tears and the Seleção confronting a fresh injury concern.

The result, coupled with Morocco’s 1-0 win over Scotland in Boston, lifted Brazil to four points and top of the group on goal difference. Haiti, back at the finals for the first time since 1974, became the first side mathematically eliminated, with Ricardo Adé’s second-half header forcing Alisson into the lone moment of genuine alarm for the Brazilian goal. Ancelotti admitted his team eased off after the break, a familiar pattern, but pointed to sharper attacking combinations as proof of progress after a disjointed opener.

Neymar, who missed both matches with a grade-two calf strain, will rejoin full training on Monday and “will be ready for the match against Scotland,” Ancelotti confirmed. The 34-year-old’s return offers a timely attacking option given the uncertainty over Raphinha, who was due to undergo scans on Saturday. Brazil need only a draw against the Scots in Miami on Wednesday to reach the round of 32, but top spot – and the logistical advantage of remaining in Houston for the knockout phase – will demand a second straight victory.