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Several of Brazil’s backup players made a strong impact on Sunday (31 May 2026), delivering exactly the kind of performance Carlo Ancelotti and his staff had hoped for in their friendly against Panama.

With standout contributions from substitutes and impressive first-half displays by Vinícius Júnior and Casemiro, Brazil secured a commanding 6-2 victory in front of 72,140 spectators at the Maracanã Stadium.

The result leaves the Seleção in high spirits as they head to the United States for the next phase of their FIFA World Cup preparations.

Brazil wasted no time, taking the lead before the first minute was up. Casemiro recovered possession, and the No. 7 sprinted past Córdoba before finishing with precision.

Vinícius Júnior continued to dictate play shortly afterward, as Brazil maintained control and looked to exploit more openings. However, Panama were awarded a free kick in the 14th minute. Michael Murillo’s delivery took a heavy deflection off Matheus Cunha, completely wrong-footing the goalkeeper and levelling the score.

Brazil were forced to regroup against a determined Panamanian side. Alisson was called into action in the 32nd minute, making a save from Ismael Díaz’s strike. The pressure eased in the 39th minute when another move initiated by the No. 7 ended with Casemiro heading home his 11th goal of the season. Although the assistant initially raised the flag for offside, VAR overruled the decision, confirming the goal.

Raphinha came close to extending the advantage before halftime, while at the other end, Waterman tested Alisson deep into stoppage time.

As expected, Brazil made wholesale changes for the second half—ten in total—with only Léo Pereira remaining on the field due to the absence of Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães. Goalkeeper Weverton was the only player in the squad who did not feature.

Rayan, one of the late-season revelations, needed just eight minutes to mark his debut goal for the national team. The rout continued as Lucas Paquetá finished off a slick team move in the 60th minute.

Three minutes later, Igor Thiago—Brazil’s top scorer in a single Premier League season—converted a penalty he had won himself, stretching the lead further.

Paquetá, who continues to impress ahead of the World Cup, capped his performance by setting up Danilo Santos. The Botafogo midfielder showcased skill and composure, even sending Roderick Miller to the ground before scoring.

Panama managed a consolation goal late on, as Harvey struck beautifully, leaving Ederson with no chance.

Brazil will conclude their pre-World Cup friendlies on 6 June against Egypt in Cleveland before heading into the global tournament. They will compete in Group C, facing Morocco (13 June), Haiti (19 June), and Scotland (24 June).

Panama, preparing for only their second World Cup, will play two more warm-up matches—against the Dominican Republic (3 June) and Bosnia (6 June). They are placed in Group L alongside Ghana (17 June), Croatia (23 June), and England (27 June).