Brazil managed only a 1-1 draw against Morocco in their Group C opener at New York New Jersey Stadium on Saturday, as the five-time world champions made a shaky start to the 2026 World Cup.
Morocco took the lead in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari ran through to score with a clever scoop. Brazil struggled for much of the match to contain a lively Moroccan attack, with midfielder Casemiro substituted off at halftime after a difficult first 45 minutes in the heat.
Vinicius Junior eventually provided the equalizer with a solo effort that rescued a point for Carlo Ancelotti's side. The Real Madrid forward had scored 16 goals in La Liga and five in the Champions League this past season, according to Al Jazeera, and his quality on the ball was visible even as the rest of the team underperformed.
Brazil are chasing a record sixth World Cup title, 24 years after last lifting the trophy. A fifth-place finish in South American qualifying had already raised questions about the squad's depth, and the performance in New Jersey did little to ease those concerns.
Morocco arrived in North America as African Cup of Nations champions, after being retrospectively awarded the title following a controversial final defeat to Senegal. The Atlas Lions reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and came into this tournament looking to prove that run was not a one-off. Saturday's performance suggested they are capable of another deep run.
Also in Group H, pre-tournament favorites Spain open their campaign Monday against World Cup debutants Cape Verde at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Spain have gone 30 matches unbeaten since a 1-0 friendly loss to Colombia in March 2024. Opta's supercomputer gives Spain a 15.94 percent probability of winning the title, with France second at 13.62 percent. Star winger Lamine Yamal, still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in April, could be held out of the squad or named on the bench for the opener.
Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, will make its World Cup debut on Monday as one of 10 African representatives at the tournament, which runs from June 11 through July 19.
