In a highly anticipated Group C opening clash at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Saturday, five-time World Cup champions Brazil kicked off their campaign for a historic sixth title with an underwhelming 1-1 draw against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, leaving questions hanging over Carlo Ancelotti’s side ahead of the knockout stage.
Morocco got off to a flying start early in the first half, after manager Mohamed Ouahbi openly urged his squad to set aside any fear of facing the South American giants. Following close threats from midfielders Neil El Aynaoui and captain Achraf Hakimi that tested Brazil’s defensive line, 21st minute saw PSV Eindhoven forward Ismael Saibari break the deadlock with clinical finishing. Latched onto a precision through ball from Brahim Diaz, Saibari outpaced Brazil center backs Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes before coolly chipping a scooped finish over onrushing Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker, putting the Atlas Lions up 1-0.
Brazil’s search for an equalizer paid off just 11 minutes later, when Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior produced a moment of individual magic to level the score. Receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Bruno Guimaraes on the left edge of the 18-yard box, Vinicius cut inside onto his stronger right foot and fired a powerful shot into the far top corner, beyond the reach of Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. The goal injected much-needed momentum into a sluggish Brazil side, and before halftime, Lucas Paqueta came close to turning the tide with an acrobatic volley that was pushed away by a sharp save from Bounou.
After the break, Brazil piled on continuous pressure in search of a late winner to secure all three points. A quick throw-in caught Morocco’s defense off guard, with Igor Thiago’s strike forced into another impressive save by Bounou. Subsequent efforts from Raphinha and Danilo both failed to find the back of the net, with both shots straight at the in-form Moroccan goalkeeper.
In a dramatic late twist, Morocco nearly snatched all three points at the death. El Aynaoui’s long-range effort was parried by Alisson, and the Brazil goalkeeper had to react quickly to block Ayoube Amaimouni’s close-range follow-up, preserving the 1-1 scoreline until the final whistle.
The result stretches Brazil’s undefeated streak in World Cup opening matches all the way back to 1934, but the performance will do little to silence critics who have questioned the side’s readiness to end a 24-year title drought. Ancelotti, the first foreign manager to lead Brazil at a World Cup, was hired to end the nation’s long wait for another trophy after a rocky fifth-place finish in South American qualifying. The Italian coach has maintained that his squad has the quality to compete with any side in the new expanded 48-team tournament, but he was missing Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer Neymar for the opener, who continues to recover from a lingering calf injury that has kept him out of international action since 2023.
Icons from Brazil’s last World Cup-winning squad in 2002 – including Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka – were in attendance at the match to watch the current generation’s opening campaign. Next up for Brazil is a second group stage clash against underdogs Haiti, while Morocco will face Scotland in their next Group C fixture.