Brazil thrashed Panama ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

VHO - The Brazilian national team had a perfect warm-up ahead of the 2026 World Cup by thrashing Panama 6-2 in a friendly match held on the morning of June 1st (Vietnam time).

At the hallowed Maracana stadium, Carlo Ancelotti's team not only showcased the devastating attacking power of their top stars but also demonstrated impressive squad depth, further solidifying their position as a leading contender for their sixth World Cup title in history.

Vinicius Junior scored the opening goal very early in the match.

A start to the explosion

Although Panama is also one of the 48 teams that qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals, the difference in skill and class between the two teams was evident right after the opening whistle.

This friendly match is seen as an ideal opportunity for coach Carlo Ancelotti to experiment with tactics and help the Samba dancers warm up.

The home team's overwhelming strength was demonstrated in the very first minute of the match. Taking advantage of a mistake by Yoel Bárcenas of Panama, who lost possession in the midfield, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior immediately seized the ball.

The striker executed a skillful dribble before unleashing a spectacular and powerful long-range shot, completely beating the opposing goalkeeper and sending the Maracana stadium into a frenzy with the early opening goal.

After conceding a quick goal, Panama did not give up but continued to show commendable effort with determined attacking moves. The CONCACAF representative unexpectedly brought the game back to a tie in the 14th minute.

From a free-kick taken by Michael Murillo, the ball deflected off Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha, changing its direction significantly. The trajectory was so difficult for goalkeeper Alisson to stop that he was completely helpless, and Cunha's equalizer, making the score 1-1, was counted as an own goal.

Brazil has had a perfect warm-up ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

A flurry of goals from substitutes.

However, Panama's equalizer was almost all they could manage against the relentless and suffocating pressure from the yellow and green team. All the initiative on the field belonged entirely to Ancelotti's players.

In the following minutes, Brazil quickly regained control of the game and pressed intensely towards the opponent's goal. In the 38th minute, the turning point came when Vinicius Junior once again made his mark with a dangerous shot, setting up goalkeeper Casemiro to head the ball into the net from close range, securing a 2-1 victory before the first half ended.

Entering the second half, coach Carlo Ancelotti made a bold personnel experiment by making 10 changes to the starting lineup, retaining only center-back Leo Pereira on the field.

Interestingly, this change did not diminish Brazil's strength at all. On the contrary, the players who came off the bench played with great openness and enthusiasm, making the home team's style of play much more fluid, effective, and dominant.

These new factors transformed the second half into a one-sided affair, subjecting Panama to a true "nightmare."

The goalfest began in the 52nd minute thanks to young talent Rayan. Taking advantage of a serious mistake by Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, Rayan needed only 7 minutes on the field to score his first goal for the national team.

In the 59th minute, the lead was further extended when Lucas Paqueta scored to make it 4-1 after a clever assist from Douglas Santos. Just three minutes later, in the 62nd minute, Igor Thiago added his name to the scoresheet, increasing the score to 5-1 for the Selecao.

Panama's weak defense was punished again in the 80th minute. Receiving a perfect pass from Lucas Paqueta, Danilo Santos finished off a beautifully executed combination by the home team with an impressive shot that found the back of the net for the sixth time.

It wasn't until the 83rd minute that Panama's late efforts finally paid off with a second goal. Carlos Harvey unleashed an impressive long-range shot to reduce the deficit to 2-6.

Positive signs ahead of the gold trophy hunt.

The resounding victory against Panama marked Brazil's final home game before officially heading to the 2026 World Cup finals. This "dress rehearsal" at the Maracana provided a series of very positive signals for Carlo Ancelotti's coaching staff.

Besides the outstanding performances of key players like Vinicius Junior and Casemiro, the substitutes also made the most of their opportunities to play and score strongly.

To complete their final preparations for the biggest football event on the planet, coach Carlo Ancelotti and his team will travel to the United States to play their penultimate friendly match against Egypt.

In the group stage of the 2026 World Cup finals, the Brazilian national team is in Group C and will face Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland in their quest to reclaim the prestigious gold trophy.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/brazil-thang-dam-panama-truc-them-world-cup-2026-233269.html