When Brazil claimed their fourth World Cup title in the United States back in 1994, ending a 24-year drought, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira faced criticism for his team’s uninspiring style—even from his own mother. For the Seleção, victory alone isn’t enough; the joga bonito (beautiful game) must always shine through.

Brazil’s supporters expected nothing less than scintillating football when the auriverdes took on Haiti in Philadelphia. They got exactly that in a commanding 3-0 win that unfolded entirely in the first 45 minutes.

Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti made a bold attacking change, starting Matheus Cunha over Igor Thiago—a decision that paid immediate dividends. The Manchester United forward opened the scoring just before the first commercial break, redirecting a Vinícius Jr. shot that had rebounded into his path.

Cunha doubled his tally with a left-footed strike into the top corner, again assisted by Vini Jr. The forward celebrated with his signature surfing motion, adding flair to the Seleção’s dominance.

Vinícius Jr. completed the rout before halftime, exploiting a naively advanced Haitian defensive line. His goal came from a perfectly weighted lob by Lucas Paquetá, who looked far sharper than in Brazil’s opening 1-1 draw with Morocco.

The crowd roared as the final whistle approached, sensing a potential repeat of Canada’s 4-0 dismantling of Qatar the previous day. Haiti’s robust approach earned them an early yellow card, but despite switching to a more compact five-to-four defensive setup under coach Sébastien Migné, they couldn’t contain the Brazilian onslaught.

Rather than parking the bus, as some might have expected, Haiti maintained a direct and aggressive approach. Facing Brazil isn’t like facing Costa Rica. The second half, however, saw a more subdued Seleção, partly due to a tactical shift by the Haitians and partly from Brazil’s own fatigue after a demanding first half.

The absence of Raphinha—injured late in the first half—compounded Brazil’s challenges. His replacement, though effective, couldn’t replicate the winger’s season-long brilliance at FC Barcelona, where he netted 34 goals and provided 22 assists. Neymar’s continued absence due to injury also left the team without one of its most creative forces.

Ancelotti’s decision to leave Neymar out of the squad, even with injuries piling up, spared him potential backlash. At 34, the veteran forward has been battling physical issues for over a decade, and his omission would have sparked controversy among fans and pundits alike.

After their narrow 1-1 draw with Morocco, Brazil may regret not extending their lead further. Defensive miscommunications between Haitian defenders and goalkeeper Johny Placide created openings, though Haiti’s best chance fell to Martin Expérience, whose one-two with Pierrot led to the first corner of the game.

The Grenadiers nearly equalized late in the second half when a second corner fell to Pierrot, but Alisson’s reflexes denied them. Haiti’s campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Scotland, yet their performance earned respect as they bowed out of the tournament at their second-ever World Cup appearance.

Wednesday’s clash against Morocco—2022 World Cup semifinalists—will be Haiti’s final chance to salvage pride. The match holds special significance for diaspora communities in Quebec, coinciding with Canada Day.

Haiti’s last World Cup outing in 1974 ended in a trio of defeats: 3-1 to Italy, a humiliating 7-0 thrashing by Poland (exactly 52 years before Brazil’s win), and a 4-1 loss to Argentina. Emmanuel Sanon scored both of Haiti’s goals that tournament. Could another Haitian striker find the net this time?

As five-time world champions, Brazil last lifted the trophy in 2002 with the legendary trio of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho. Their current drought—longer than the one following Pelé’s 1970 triumph—could finally end if they rediscover their attacking verve. The Seleção owe their fans a performance as dazzling as their 1994 victory, and perhaps this time, they’ll deliver.