Brazil Beats Haiti 3-0 to Reach Brink of Knockout Stage as Cunha Scores 2

Q: Will Ancelotti risk debuting wonderkid Endrick to solve Brazil's scoring woes and save their World Cup run?

Probably not from the start. All the available signals point to Carlo Ancelotti using Endrick selectively rather than throwing him in as an emergency fix against Haiti. Ancelotti has been explicit that he will introduce the teenager at the “right moment,” and he has repeated that outside pressure will not dictate his lineup. He has praised Endrick as an “extraordinary talent” and said he will be important in this World Cup, but he has also stressed patience, maturity and long-term handling. That strongly suggests a managed cameo or bench role is more likely than a high-risk debut in the starting XI. The pressure on Brazil is real. After the 1-1 draw with Morocco, they sit on one point and need a win to move level with Morocco on four points in Group C. With Neymar still out because of a calf injury, Vinícius Júnior remains the focal point of the attack, and Ancelotti is expected to tweak the team after a flat opening display. That said, Haiti’s shape may influence the decision. Their 4-4-2, wing speed and crossing game can target Brazil’s vulnerable fullback areas, so Ancelotti may prioritize balance and control before adding a young attacking wildcard. If Brazil struggle to break Haiti down, Endrick becomes a strong option off the bench. So the most evidence-based expectation is that Endrick could appear, possibly in a meaningful second-half role, but Ancelotti is unlikely to gamble on him as the immediate solution from kickoff.

Q: Without Neymar, can Vinícius Júnior carry the weight of a nation and prevent a disastrous early World Cup exit?

Yes—but probably not alone. Brazil’s immediate fate against Haiti should not depend on Vinícius Júnior matching Neymar’s entire influence, but on whether he can remain decisive while Carlo Ancelotti fixes the team’s structural problems. The evidence is mixed but encouraging. Against Morocco, Vinícius was quiet early and looked burdened by the responsibility, yet he still produced Brazil’s only goal with a moment of individual quality. Ancelotti called him “very dangerous” and believes he has what it takes for a strong World Cup. Under Ancelotti, his form and confidence have improved, and with Neymar still out because of a calf injury, he is clearly Brazil’s main attacking reference. The larger issue is that Brazil remain a work in progress. The 1-1 draw exposed problems beyond the left wing: a 4-2-4 shape that left the midfield stretched, vulnerable fullback areas, and an attack that lacked creativity without Neymar. Haiti’s 4-4-2, with pace out wide and crosses into two forwards, is well designed to test exactly those weaknesses. If Brazil are open in transition, Vinícius alone will not be enough. Still, Brazil are heavily favored, and this is a match in which Vinícius can tilt the balance. He does not need to be “Brazil’s Neymar” in style or status; he needs to keep delivering decisive moments while Brazil become more coherent around him. If Ancelotti gets better balance from the team, Vinícius should be enough to prevent an early crisis.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 20

Matheus Cunha scored twice and Vinícius Júnior added a goal in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti in Philadelphia, making Haiti the first team eliminated from the 2026 World Cup knockout race.
Vinícius set up Cunha’s first-half brace and then scored himself before halftime, delivering the response Brazil needed after its flat 1-1 draw with Morocco.
Carlo Ancelotti had left Cunha on the bench in the opener, but the Manchester United forward justified a start this time in front of 68,324 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.
Brazil now closes Group C against Scotland on Wednesday seeking to build on its first win, while Neymar missed a second straight match with a lingering calf injury.