Brazil hunt first World Cup win as Haiti aim for upset in Philadelphia

Team news and lineups

Both teams have confirmed their starting elevens, each making two changes from their opening matches. Brazil are without record scorer Neymar, who is nursing a calf injury, leaving the attack to rely on Vinicius Jr after his equaliser against Morocco. Haiti are led by a French coach who, remarkably, has never set foot in the country during his two-year tenure. The Caribbean side impressed in a narrow 1-0 loss to Scotland and will aim to frustrate the five-time world champions.

Historical encounters

This is the fourth meeting between the nations, but the first at a World Cup finals. Brazil won all three previous matches: an encounter at the 1959 Pan American Games, a "Match for Peace" friendly in front of a packed crowd in Port-au-Prince in 2004, and a 7-1 rout in the 2016 Copa America, the most recent clash.

Group C standings

Brazil opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco, rescuing a point through Vinicius Jr's solo goal. Haiti lost by a single goal to Scotland but left a very positive impression. Scotland lead the group on three points; Morocco and Brazil have one each, while Haiti are yet to get off the mark. A win for the Seleção is critical to avoid an early scare.

Match context

The Guardian observed that "anything other than a comprehensive Brazilian victory would set alarm bells ringing" given the 24-year gap since Brazil last lifted the World Cup. Haiti, still searching for a first win at the tournament, can take heart from their spirited display against Scotland and the deeper bond between the countries forged through the 2004 peace match.

Live action

The match kicked off at 8:30pm local time in Philadelphia. Early stages have seen Brazil dominate possession, probing a compact Haitian defence. Haiti are looking to spring counters, and the atmosphere in the stadium is electric as the underdogs chase a historic result.