RIO DE JANEIRO, June 1, 2026 — Brazil produced an emphatic attacking display as they defeated Panama 6-2 in a World Cup warm-up match at the iconic Maracanã Stadium on Saturday, continuing their preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The five-time world champions made a flying start when Vinicius Jr. opened the scoring in just the second minute, setting the tone for an entertaining evening in Rio de Janeiro.
Despite Brazil’s dominance, Panama briefly leveled the match through an own goal. A free-kick from Michael Murillo took a deflection off Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha and found its way into the net, making it 1-1 against the run of play.
Brazil responded quickly and regained the lead through veteran midfielder Casemiro, whose well-taken strike restored the hosts’ advantage. The Seleção carried a 2-1 lead into halftime after controlling possession and creating the better chances.
The second half turned into a one-sided affair as Brazil’s attacking depth overwhelmed Panama’s defense.
Young forward Rayan capitalized on a defensive error to score Brazil’s third goal before a shot from Lucas Paquetá deflected off Panamanian defender Córdoba and into the net for the fourth.
Substitute Igor Thiago added a fifth from the penalty spot with a composed finish, while defender Danilo completed the scoring with an impressive turn and finish inside the penalty area.
Panama managed a late consolation goal through Harvey, whose powerful long-range strike beat the Brazilian goalkeeper and provided one of the visitors’ few highlights of the match.
Brazil finished with 14 shots and an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.26, underlining their attacking efficiency. Head coach used the occasion to rotate players and assess different tactical options ahead of the tournament.
The victory provides further encouragement for Brazil as they finalize preparations for the World Cup. Their final warm-up match is scheduled for June 7 against Egypt, led by star forward Mohamed Salah.
Brazil will begin their World Cup campaign on June 14 against Morocco in Group C. They will then face Haiti on June 20 before concluding the group stage against Scotland on June 25.
