Brazil Feels the Pressure in Philadelphia Before Must-Win Match Against Haiti

Tens of thousands of Brazilian fans have flooded Philadelphia in recent days ahead of Brazil’s World Cup match against Haiti, scheduled for late Friday into Saturday at 3:30 a.m. on Sport1. Yellow shirts, green-and-yellow flags, drums and samba songs turned downtown into a temporary Brazilian neighborhood, as many supporters said they came not only for football but for a sense of redemption.

Brazil arrives under pressure after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Morocco in its opening game. The five-time world champion fell behind in the first half and only salvaged a point through a brilliant Vinicius Junior goal. Brazilian media described Morocco as “sharper, braver and more organized” for long stretches, and the clear expectation now is that Brazil cannot afford another slip against Haiti.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti tried to calm expectations at a press conference in Philadelphia. “As I said after Morocco, you do not win the World Cup in the first game,” he said. “The players’ self-criticism was very positive. I think we will solve the problems and I remain confident that we will be competitive.” He also acknowledged that the opening half was unexpected and suggested that “the pressure of wearing the yellow shirt in the first game may have affected the players’ mental state.”

Even so, the numbers favor Brazil. It has played 115 World Cup matches, won 76, scored 238 goals and is one goal short of Germany’s all-time scoring record. Brazil has lost only once in 19 group-stage World Cup matches, has beaten Haiti in all three previous meetings, including a 7-1 rout at the 2016 Copa America Centenario in Orlando, and has never lost a World Cup game on U.S. soil. Ancelotti, who has been in charge for just over a year, said he does not want one fixed identity for the team, but “several identities.”