* There will be concern that Brazil looked second best to Morocco for long spells, devoid of the swagger we have come to expect
* From the nation that produced legends such as Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zico among other greats
* Failure at this tournament, after a 24-year title drought, would lead to serious questions about how the most successful team in World Cup history moves forward
Maravi Express
For large portions of an absorbing first half that hopefully set the tone for the rest of the tournament, Brazil found themselves chasing shadows as Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães struggled to contain a Morocco midfield anchored by the outstanding teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Ismael Saibari opens the scoring for Morocco(Credit: Getty Images)
After watching his side fall behind to Ismael Saibari’s brilliant opening goal, Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti, needed a big favour from Vinícius Júnior to ensure the five-time world champions’ first match of the 2026 edition didn’t end in an embarrassing defeat.
The Real Madrid forward, Vinícius had been heavily criticised for failing to produce his club form on the international stage but he gave the Brazil supporters something to celebrate. It was only the 25-year-old’s 10th goal for the Seleção on his 50th appearance and with Neymar still sidelined with a calf injury after his surprise recall, Ancelotti will know that any chance of winning a sixth title will rely on Vinícius.
While they still possess undoubted quality, Brazil are badly lacking in some positions. Morocco – who became the first African side ever to reach the semifinals in Qatar 2022 and look capable of going deep into the tournament again – were ruthless in exploiting those weaknesses and they almost won it at the death after a fumble from Alisson.
At least Brazil improved in the second half after a few tactical tweaks from Ancelotti, although the Italian clearly has plenty of work to do if his side are to be real contenders.
“We need to improve,” was Ancelotti’s honest assessment. “This was a tough match especially in the beginning. The team was a bit anxious, nerves were all over the place.
“I think we have to reassess what we did in this match. But we can’t lose heart – you don’t win a World Cup based on your first match.”
Astonishingly, more than 90 players have been called up by Brazil since they were knocked out of the last World Cup in Qatar, even if Ancelotti has been much more consistent in his selection since taking over last year.
But his decision to deploy Roger Ibañez at right-back raised a few eyebrows given the 27-year-old usually plays in central defence and there was no doubt that Morocco targeted the Al Ahly player from the start.
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Noussair Mazraoui carved his way through from left back and Neil El Aynaoui’s shot was blocked as they wasted no time going on the attack. Brazil struggled to find their rhythm until Vinícius Júnior created some space down the left and picked out Igor Thiago, only for the Brentford striker to hopelessly mistime his header.
Ancelotti was on his feet in the searing New Jersey heat for most of the first half and his worst fears were realised in a flash of inspiration from Brahim Díaz.
There appeared to be no danger when the Real Madrid forward picked up the ball inside his own half but a sensational pass fell perfectly into Saibari’s stride and he casually lobbed over the stranded Alisson.
It was no less than Morocco deserved. Had Achraf Hakimi decided to pass to Díaz instead of shoot in the next attack then it could have been even worse for Brazil.
But just when they were on the ropes, Vinícius came to his side’s rescue when he picked up a pass from Guimarães on the byline and slammed past Yassine Bounou from a tight angle after leaving El Aynaoui on his backside.
You could hear the collective sigh of relief in the stands.
“I am not here to be the best player of the tournament,” said Vinicius on the eve of Brazil’s opening World Cup game. “I am here to help Brazil get back to the top” — and the supremely talented forward backed up his words on the pitch at the New Jersey New York Stadium.
There will be concern that Brazil looked second best to Morocco for long spells, devoid of the swagger we have come to expect from the nation that produced legends such as Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Zico.
This squad, however, is overloaded with wingers and is lacking numbers in midfield. Casemiro, 34, showed his age as he toiled in the heat before he was replaced at half-time as Morocco dominated without adding to the lead given to them by Ismael Saibari.
Defender Roger Ibanez also failed to return to the pitch in the second half as Carlo Ancelotti attempted to address the team’s shortcomings.
Failure at this tournament, after a 24-year title drought, would lead to serious questions about how the most successful team in World Cup history moves forward.
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“We were expecting more from them,” former Uruguay and Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet told BBC Sport. “I was surprised how bad technically they were today. I don’t know if it was the pitch, maybe the pitch didn’t help but they were missing passes, simple passes that you would expect the Brazilian players to do well.
“This is precisely why Brazil are so dangerous. How many teams can play that badly and still be in the game? It’s the individuality.”
Ahead of the match, Morocco’s captain Achraf Hakimi, knew of the stakes in defending against Vinícius: “I think everyone knows the Brazilian national team, we know Vinicius’ qualities,” the Paris Saint-Germain told CAFonline.
“I’ve already played against him many times and he’s a great player. To defend against Vinicius and the other Brazilian players, who are all top-level, you have to defend as a team, with clear ideas.”
Hakimi tightly marking Vinícius
Morocco head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, who was appointed to replace Walid Regragui in March after winning the Under-20 World Cup last year, promised more of the same from his side after their success in Qatar.
Bouaddi was handed only his fourth senior cap in midfield only a few weeks after opting to play for the Atlas Lions over France and looks set to be a star of the future after an assured display way beyond his 18 years.
“The players are disappointed because they wanted to win,” said Ouahbi. “In the second half, the rhythm dropped but that is understandable against a team of this quality.”—Reporting by The Guardian & BBC Sport; editing by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
Group stage results and next fixtures
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Australia 2-0 Turkiye
June 14
Group E
Germany v Curacao
Group F
Netherlands v Japan
June 15
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire v Ecuador
Group F
Sweden v Tunisia
Group H
Spain v Cape Verde
Group G
Belgium v Egypt
June 16
Group H
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay
Group G
Iran v New Zealand
Group I
France v Senegal
June 17
Group I
Iraq v Norway
Group J
Argentina v Algeria
Austria v Jordan
Group K
Portugal v DR Congo
Group L
England v Croatia
June 18
Group L
Ghana v Panama
Group K
Uzbekistan Vs Colombia
Group A
Czechia v South Africa
Group B
Switzerland v Bosnia & Herzegovina
June 19
Group B
Canada v Qatar
Group A
Mexico v South Korea
Group D
USA v Australia
June 20
Group C
Scotland v Morocco
Brazil v Haiti
Group D
Turkiye v Paraguay
Group F
Netherlands v Sweden
Group E
Germany v Côte d’Ivoire
June 21
Group E
Ecuador Vs Curacao
Group F
Tunisia v Japan
Group H
Spain v Saudi Arabia
Group G
Belgium v Iran
June 22
Group H
Uruguay v Cape Verde
Group G
New Zealand v Egypt
Group J
Argentina v Austria
June 23
Group I
France v Iraq
Norway v Senegal
Group J
Jordan v Algeria
Group K
Portugal v Uzbekistan
Group L
England v Ghana
June 24
Group L
Panama v Croatia
Group K
Colombia v DR Congo
Group B
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Qatar
Switzerland Vs Canada
June 25
Group C
Morocco v Haiti
Scotland Vs Brazil
Group A
Czechia v Mexico
South Africa v South Korea
Group E
Ecuador v Germany
Curacao Côte d’Ivoire
June 26
Group F
Tunisia v Netherlands
Japan v Sweden
Group D
Paraguay v Australia
Turkiye v USA
Group I
Norway v France
Senegal v Iraq
June 27
Group H
Uruguay Spain
Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia
Group G
New Zealand v Belgium
Egypt v Iran
June 28
Group L
Panama v England
Croatia v Ghana
Group K
DR Congo v Uzbekistan
Colombia v Portugal
Group J
Jordan v Argentina
Algeria v Austria
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