Brazil shook off a stuttering start to their World Cup campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday night. Carlo Ancelotti's side, held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opener, were far more fluid after the Italian rejigged his attack. Matheus Cunha, restored to the starting line-up, seized his opportunity with two first-half goals – the first a predatory finish after a Vinicius Junior shot was parried, the second a neat header – before Vinicius himself added a third. Speaking after the match, Vinicius credited Ancelotti's positional tweaks, telling the Brazilian federation's media that the coach had instructed him to move inside between the centre-backs: "I don't play much with the ball there, but every time he tells me to drop in, I can score." The performance answered immediate doubts after the Morocco stalemate, though it came at a cost.

The sight of Raphinha clutching his right hamstring just before half-time tempered the celebrations. Tests later confirmed a muscular strain severe enough to rule the Barcelona winger out of Wednesday's group finale against Scotland. Medical assessments cited by the CBF and local outlets suggest a recovery timeline of at least two weeks, making him a doubt for the early knockout rounds. Ancelotti now faces a decision on the right flank: Rayan, the 19‑year‑old Vasco da Gama product who replaced Raphinha against Haiti, is seen from São Paulo to Rio as the front-runner, though Luiz Henrique's dribbling and Endrick's goalscoring record from the right at Lyon offer alternatives. The depth of the squad is not in question – Ancelotti has already given minutes to 20 of his 26 players, a deliberate strategy to manage the physical toll of a tournament staged across three host nations and to keep his options open.

Meanwhile, Neymar's return to full training on Sunday has shifted the mood around the camp. The 34‑year‑old has not played since a calf injury on 17 May, but Ancelotti confirmed he will be available against Scotland. "He'll train individually and then with the team. He'll be ready for Scotland," the coach said after the Haiti win. The forward's first session without restrictions was noted with relief by team‑mates; Lucas Paquetá told reporters, "We're all very happy. He's hugely important and still has a beautiful history here." The moment was not without a ripple of levity abroad – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, referring to Neymar's prolonged absence, joked at an event in Belo Horizonte that he was "the world's first work‑from‑home national team player" – but inside the Brazil camp the mood is pragmatic. His presence, even from the bench, adds a dimension Ancelotti has yet to deploy.

Brazil top Group C on four points, ahead of Morocco only on goal difference, and face a Scotland side that requires a result to keep its own qualification hopes alive. A draw would guarantee the Seleção's passage to the round of 32, but a win would secure first place and lock in a more favourable logistical path: remaining in the United States rather than travelling to Mexico for the next round. With the group finely balanced and a knockout‑stage berth within reach, Ancelotti's proven willingness to rotate – and now, the prospect of Neymar's reintroduction – frames a final group test that could either sharpen or unsettle a side still searching for rhythm.