Long after Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti had eased to the pace of a training game, and Carlo Ancelotti was actually playing some of the positives down, there was suddenly a rush of energy near the press conference room. People were hurrying over, in a way they weren’t quite doing for Matheus Cunha or even Vinicius Junior.

In the corridors leading up from the Philadelphia Eagles dressing room, where the post-game media duties were taking place, was a proper constellation of stars.

All of Romario, Bebeto, Rivaldo and Kaka were just… milling around waiting to go somewhere. They were so idle, in fact, that they were happily posing for the multiple requests for selfies. People were of course doing the cradle celebration to Bebeto, who was only too delighted to smile along.

Now with silver hair, the former striker was wearing a resplendent blue suit and pink tie, making him look like a Republican senator.

On his lapel, though, was one reason for all the fuss. He and Rivaldo had little pins of the World Cup itself, given they’ve actually won it.

Romario wasn’t quite dressed like that, since he is working for Brazilian television. The star of USA 94 in fact conducted the flash interview with Vinicius.

While the Real Madrid forward is hardly fazed by much, you can imagine how intimidating it could be to be interviewed by a legend who has done what you never have but an entire nation is desperate for

And that, as well as all the buzz around legends, raises something else around this Brazil team. It was already written in these pages last week that the famous yellow shirt has lost its allure. That goes hand in hand with how this team – at least as a concept – have lost their fear factor.

Sure, you are still wary of them. You wouldn’t want to face them in the knockouts. But are you really scared of them? Are you intimidated by what they can do to you in an instant, in the way Romario or Bebeto could?

You can see all of that old awe in the very wonder at their presence. They inspire delight because of how devastating they used to be.

One of many tricks such stars pulled is that they actually played in dour sides – in both 1994 and 2002 – but what lasts in the memory are the moments of magic; those flashes when they’d suddenly illuminate and decide a match in seconds.

That’s what this shirt used to represent. It was spectacle, sparkle and… stardust. It was awesome, as they say here, but in the truest sense of the word.

You were afforded a rare glimpse of a higher level of player. You feared what they could do to you. This was Brazil.

Now, it’s just another good team, with some stars. If England were to face them in a potential quarter-final in Miami, could they really be considered favourites?

And there is more to this than just how football globalisation has made us so much more familiar with the best in the world.

Brazil haven’t even had a properly good World Cup since they last won it.

Little wonder they’ve lost their fear factor. In the 24 years since Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho all won it – and the other two ‘Rs’ were also here tonight in even more elevated circumstances – Brazil have got past the quarter-finals just once. And that ended up being the worst experience of the lot, as a home World Cup clouded by so much nervous energy collapsed into that 7-1 humiliation against Germany.

They’ve otherwise been beaten by France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Croatia in relatively staid eliminations.

The former winners present in Philadelphia aren’t just heroes, then. They’re ghosts, whose success haunts every team. You can see some of this – the sense of some kind of mythic quest – in one of the main obsessions around the team.

They are still looking for the messiah, the singular figure arising out of their history to carry the team again.

So it is that Neymar is in the squad almost as a totem, with Endrick now the chosen one. The majority Brazilian crowd were desperate for his eventual introduction from the bench, especially when Raphinha went off injured. Endrick offered real spark and then scored, only for the strike to be ruled out for offside.

One of Ancelotti’s most important responsibilities with this team might be to temper all of that, to bring the kind of balance that his famous composure lends itself to. Here, he had to explain why Rayan initially came on.

The win over Haiti otherwise duly showed how this Brazil aren’t quite one level or the other. They don’t look elite as a side, but there is quality in moments. They are exceptional in certain positions, but so mediocre in others.

They put on a bit of a show, but that in a game where it was still occasionally difficult not to turn to your phone for distraction. Maybe the most important development, however, is how they are picking up momentum as Ancelotti gradually figures things out.

Vinicius made it two goals in two, while scoring another that is classically Vinicius. How many times have we seen him outstrip a defence to finish like that?

He may not yet have the aura that his predecessors present here tonight did, but it shouldn’t be forgotten he’s one of the best in the world.

The same could be said of Alisson for his position, and the goalkeeper even added to the show with one fine turn.

Gabriel and Marquinhos are both so secure at centre-back. Bruno Guimaraes is sought-after in the engine room and, for all the focus on the midfield, were the workmen of 1994 and 2002 like Mauro Silva and Kleberson really better?

Cunha meanwhile may have offered Ancelotti that solution up front, with two very different types of goals.

The first showed a poacher’s instinct. The second was the type of thrashed high finish he has already made a trademark for Manchester United.

Just when you thought the chance had gone, Cunha produced something. Maybe it will be like that for the team as a whole.

Typically, though, just as one solution presented itself another problem arose. Raphinha went down injured, when he’d been so impressive in stretching the game.

Ancelotti addressed this in the same tempered way. Maybe it will be the story of their campaign.

No, Brazil do not have that fear factor. But they do have something, and it can grow.

Brazil overcame Haiti 3-0 in their Group C clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia. Matheus Cunha struck a brace while Vinicius Junior also got on scoresheet for the Selecao, who although lost Raphinha to an unfortunate injury in the first half.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side, whose campaign began on a frustrating note with a 1-1 draw to Morocco, dominated the proceedings right from the off.

It took Brazil 23 minutes to finally break the deadlock as Vinicius’ initial effort was parried away by Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide before Hannes Delcroix’s attempt to kick it away came off Cunha instead.

The Manchester United forward doubled their advantage 13 minutes later when Vinicus released him with a wonderful through ball. Cunha raced through acres of space at the back to connect with it and produce an emphatic finish.

Vinicius then turned goalscorer himself with an equally fine finish as Brazil led 3-0 at half-time. The second half was rather laborious with Ancelotti’s side slowing the tempo, but Haiti’s lackluster attack did not cause Brazil any trouble.

With four points in two games, the five-time world champions take top spot in Group C and will progress into the knockout stages as winners if they beat Scotland on matchday three.

Here are the player ratings for Brazil:

Brazil Player Ratings

Alisson Becker – 7/10

An easy game for Brazil’s talismanic custodian Alisson, who was a mere spectator for much of the game but was on guard whenever Haiti threatened to attack. His Cryuff turn on Haitian forward Jean-Ricner Bellegarde had fans raving about him.

Danilo – 6.5/10

Coming in place of Roger Ibanez, Danilo was a nice passing outlet for Brazil on the right while also coming up trumps defensively with five defensive contributions.

Marquinhos – 7/10

The PSG star cleaned up everything in front of him to deny Haiti any chance at the Brazilian goal while also looking dominant in the air. He was central to building play from the back and completed 95% of his passes.

Gabriel Magalhaes – 7/10

An assured presence at the back, Magalhaes rarely put a foot wrong. His passing was top-notch and won 100% of his duels.

Douglas Santos – 6.5/10

Another fine display from Douglas Santos, who guarded the left flank with utmost vigilance without ever compromising on his forward forays.

Lucas Paqueta – 7.5/10

A ball-winning machine who repeatedly recovered possession for his side and made the assist for Vinicius Junior’s goal.

Bruno Guimaraes – 7.5/10

Guimaraes dominated the midfield battle, jumping into duels and spraying passes all around the pitch, some of which got his teammates into good positions too.

Casemiro – 5/10

The Brazil veteran was uncharacteristically sloppy in passing while his hopeful punts also looked wayward. Off the ball too, Casemiro showed little movement.

Vinicius Junior – 8.5/10

The Real Madrid ace followed his opening day goal against Morocco with another sweet strike here to make it two in two. But his brilliant link-up with Cunha after running into acres of space in midfield for Brazil’s second of the evening takes the cake.

Matheus Cunha – 9/10

An electric display in the first half, justifying his start with penetrative runs inside the box and scoring twice in a gap of just 13 minutes to give his team a healthy 2-0 cushion after just 36 minutes.

Raphinha – N/A

It started off brightly, with the forward getting into some promising positions that unsettled the Haitian defense but Raphinha’s night was cut short with a hamstring injury that forced him off after 39 minutes.

Substitutes

Rayan – 6.5/10

Came in for the injured Raphinha but hardly provided attacking threat.

Endrick – 6/10

Got his first minutes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and had the ball in the back of the net at one point too, but it was ruled out for offside.

Gabriel Martinelli – 7.5/10

Looked promising every time he was on the attack, even rattling the bar once.

Ederson – N/A

Made just eight touches on the ball in nine minutes of action.

Danilo Santos – N/A

Came on as part of a double substitution with Ederson late on and couldn’t get involved in the proceedings much.