Matheus Cunha settled the question of Brazil's quality early, scoring twice before the half-hour mark and leaving Haiti's five-man defence with no credible answer. The 3-0 win at Lincoln Financial Field was comfortable, occasionally impressive, and exactly what Carlo Ancelotti's side needed after their opening draw had left them in the bottom half of Group C.
Cunha's first came on 23 minutes. The goal was unassisted, a finish that capped a period in which Brazil had taken a firm grip on possession and territory. Thirteen minutes later he had his second, this time with Vinícius Júnior providing the assist, and the match was already settled as a contest. Haiti's 5-4-1 had been designed to frustrate; it was overwhelmed instead.
Raphinha had started on the right of Brazil's front three but lasted only 40 minutes. Rayan came on in his place and played out the remaining 50, which tells its own story about how the opening half went for the Barcelona winger. He offered little before making way, though his absence did not slow Brazil's momentum.
The third goal arrived in the third minute of added time at the end of the first half, Vinícius converting after Lucas Paquetá supplied the pass. It was a punishing moment for Sebastien Migne's side, going into the break three down having spent the last quarter of the half simply trying not to concede a fourth.
Haiti's shape held a certain logic before it fell apart. They pressed the ball back with purpose in the opening ten minutes, had three shots on target in the match, and Johny Placide made two saves to deny Brazil from making it worse. The problem was structural: once Cunha had twice found space between the lines of Haiti's defensive block, the 5-4-1 offered no route back into the game.
Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães controlled the midfield without drama. With 57 per cent possession and 88 per cent passing accuracy from 522 attempts, Brazil did not need to do anything reckless. They simply recycled until Haiti tired, then found the gaps. The expected-goals figure of 1.50 suggests the quality of Cunha's finishing was exceptional.
Vinícius was Brazil's most dangerous carrier in the second half, constantly pulling wide before cutting inside. His goal and assist give him figures that flatter a performance that was already excellent before he produced them. The charge of inconsistency that had followed him into this tournament looks considerably thinner now.
Haiti's yellow cards told a story of growing desperation. Carlens Arcus, Danley Jean Jacques, and Frantzdy Pierrot all went into the referee's book. Arcus was substituted at half-time. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, playing 81 minutes in central midfield, was Haiti's best performer, showing the technical quality that marks him out as the most recognisable name in this squad.
Brazil introduced Endrick and Gabriel Martinelli with 26 minutes each late on, keeping the squad ticking over without forcing anything. The margin was long settled by then. Ancelotti's side had done what was required: aggressive in the right moments, patient in others, and ultimately clinical in a way that has been missing at some recent tournaments.
The group picture is sharp and slightly uncomfortable. Morocco's four points and Scotland's three mean Brazil, with only one point from their opening fixture, cannot afford further slips. They have played one game, won it well, and must now treat every subsequent fixture as a must-win. The performance here earned the three points. The table demands considerably more.