Samba in the City of Brotherly Love: Brazil Seeks Rhythm Against Haiti
Line-ups 🇧🇷 BRA 4-3-3 🇭🇹 HAI 5-4-1
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Starting XI
- 1 Alisson G
- 13 Danilo Luiz D
- 4 Marquinhos D
- 3 Gabriel Magalhães D
- 16 Douglas Santos D
- 8 Bruno Guimarães M
- 5 Casemiro M
- 20 Lucas Paquetá M
- 11 Raphinha F
- 9 Matheus Cunha F
- 7 Vinícius Júnior F
Substitutes
- 26 Rayan F
- 12 Weverton G
- 23 Ederson G
- 6 Alex Sandro D
- 14 Bremer D
- 15 Léo Pereira D
- 24 Roger Ibañez D
- 17 Fabinho M
- 21 Luiz Henrique F
- 2 Éderson M
- 18 Danilo Santos M
- 19 Endrick F
- 22 Gabriel Martinelli F
- 25 Igor Thiago F
Coach: Sebastien Migne
Starting XI
- 1 Johny Placide G
- 2 Carlens Arcus D
- 22 Jean-Kévin Duverne D
- 4 Ricardo Adé D
- 5 Hannes Delcroix D
- 8 Martin Expérience D
- 21 Josué Casimir M
- 17 Danley Jean Jacques M
- 10 Jean-Ricner Bellegarde M
- 15 Ruben Providence M
- 20 Frantzdy Pierrot F
Substitutes
- 12 Alexandre Pierre G
- 23 Josué Duverger G
- 3 Keeto Thermoncy D
- 13 Duke Lacroix D
- 14 Garven Metusala D
- 24 Wilguens Paugain D
- 6 Carl Sainté M
- 25 Dominique Simon M
- 26 Woodensky Pierre M
- 7 Derrick Etienne Jr. F
- 9 Duckens Nazon F
- 11 Louicius Deedson F
- 16 Lenny Joseph F
- 18 Wilson Isidor F
- 19 Yassin Fortuné F
Brazil enters Philadelphia under intense scrutiny following a stuttering start to their campaign. Carlo Ancelotti’s transition from the European club game to the international stage is facing its first real test of temperament, as the Seleção look to translate their vast individual talent into a cohesive tactical unit. With the draw in their opening fixture, the five-time champions cannot afford another slip-up if they intend to secure a favorable path through the knockout rounds.
For Haiti, this fixture represents the pinnacle of a fifty-year journey back to the global stage. Despite an opening loss, Les Grenadiers have shown a physical resilience that could frustrate a Brazilian side prone to over-elaborating in the final third. Sébastien Migné will likely deploy a compact defensive block, relying on the hold-up play of Frantzdy Pierrot and the veteran leadership of Johny Placide to weather the inevitable yellow storm at Lincoln Financial Field.
Head to head
Brazil and Haiti have rarely crossed paths in competitive football, with their most significant recent meeting being a 7-1 victory for Brazil during the 2016 Copa América Centenario. Historically, the disparity in pedigree is vast: Brazil is the only nation to have appeared in every World Cup, winning five, while Haiti is making only its second appearance ever, ending a 52-year absence that stretched back to 1974.
Players to watch
The Real Madrid winger is the squad's primary creative spark, tasked with stretching the Haitian defense and creating space for Neymar.
As the all-time leading scorer for his country, his ability to dictate the tempo and convert set-pieces remains Brazil's most reliable asset.
A physically dominant forward who provides Haiti with a vital outlet to relieve pressure and challenge Brazil's center-backs in the air.
The veteran captain and most-capped player in the squad will need the game of his life to keep Haiti competitive against a barrage of Brazilian talent.
Fun facts
- Haiti’s only previous World Cup appearance was in 1974, where they famously took a shock lead against Italy before eventually losing 3-1.
- In 2004, the Brazilian team traveled to Port-au-Prince for a 'Peace Match' to help promote national unity in Haiti during a period of civil conflict.
- Lincoln Financial Field, the venue for this match, is normally home to the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and features a distinctive eco-friendly design with over 11,000 solar panels.
- Carlo Ancelotti is the first European manager to lead Brazil at a World Cup since the 1960s.
- Philadelphia was the first capital of the United States, providing a historic backdrop for Haiti, which was the first Black-led republic in the world.
- Brazil has never lost a World Cup match against a Caribbean nation.