Vinicius Junior pulled Brazil back from the brink with a stunning equalizer in the 32nd minute, but five-time world champions Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by a disciplined and determined Morocco side Saturday in their Group C opener at MetLife Stadium, the venue set to host next month’s World Cup final.
Morocco, the 2022 semifinalists, made a confident start and took a deserved lead through Ismael Saibari in the 21st minute. Brazil recovered, but never truly convinced in front of a crowd of 80,663 that had expected far more from the Selecao.
What We Know So Far
Morocco went ahead through a moment of individual quality from Saibari, who latched onto a precise through ball from Brahim Diaz after a Lucas Paqueta error gifted the Moroccan side possession in a dangerous position.
Saibari raced beyond defenders Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes and kept his composure, chipping the ball cleanly over the advancing Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker for his 10th international goal, according to the Associated Press.
Brazil leveled eleven minutes later. Vinicius received the ball from Bruno Guimaraes on the left flank, took a touch to create space, cut inside onto his right foot and drove a precise angled effort into the far corner past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, also for his 10th international goal.
It was a moment of brilliance in an otherwise uncertain Brazilian performance.
Brazil pushed for a winner in the second half. Raphinha and Danilo both fired directly at Bounou, while Igor Thiago was denied by the Moroccan goalkeeper after Brazil caught their opponents off guard with a quick throw-in after the break, France24 reported.
Morocco nearly snatched all three points late on. Alisson parried a long-range effort from Neil El Aynaoui and had to react sharply to block the follow-up from Chemsdine Talbi.
The draw extended Brazil’s unbeaten run in World Cup opening matches to 21 games, stretching back to a 1934 loss to Spain, the Associated Press noted.
What The Coaches And Players Are Saying
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi urged his players before kickoff not to fear Brazil. His message landed. The Moroccan side pressed high, moved with confidence, and created the better chances in the opening period.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian who became the first foreign manager to lead Brazil at a World Cup, cut a measured but concerned figure on the touchline. He was without star forward Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, who remains sidelined with a torn right calf and has not featured for his country since 2023.
Ancelotti had insisted before the tournament that Brazil possessed a squad capable of competing with any side in the expanded 48-team competition. Saturday’s performance put that claim under immediate scrutiny.
Legends of Brazil’s last title-winning generation, including Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka, members of the 2002 World Cup winning squad, were present in the stands at MetLife Stadium, according to France24.
Why This Matters
Brazil arrived in the United States as one of the tournament’s most celebrated names, carrying the weight of a nation that has not lifted the World Cup trophy since 2002, a drought now stretching 24 years.
A fifth-place finish in South American qualifying had already raised questions about the team’s readiness. Saturday’s display against Morocco, a side that reached the last four at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, did little to quiet those concerns.
Brazil and Morocco were the only two top-ten ranked nations to meet in the first round of this expanded tournament, making the match one of the most anticipated group-stage fixtures on the schedule. Brazil entered ranked sixth in the world. Morocco came in seventh.
The result means neither side has taken an early command of Group C, leaving all teams with work to do.
What Happens Next
Brazil face Haiti on Friday in Philadelphia before closing their group stage campaign against Scotland in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Morocco meet Scotland in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, then face Haiti in Atlanta.
For Brazil, the path forward requires a sharper performance. The talent is present, as Vinicius demonstrated with his equalizer. Whether Ancelotti can organize it into something more cohesive before the knockout rounds will define whether this Brazilian generation finally ends one of football’s longest-running title waits.
AP/France24
