Morocco hold Brazil to 1-1 draw in World Cup opener

Morocco’s Saibari opened the scoring in the 21st minute before Vinícius Júnior leveled for Brazil 11 minutes later in their Group C opener.wikipedia
Brazil played without injured Neymar, with coach Carlo Ancelotti starting Igor Thiago up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation.espn
Goalkeeper Alisson made a crucial double save in stoppage time to preserve the draw as both teams earned a point.foxsports

Morocco Hold Brazil to 1-1 Draw in World Cup Group C Opener at MetLife Stadium

Morocco and Brazil traded early goals and played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C opener at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ismael Saibari gave the Atlas Lions the lead in the 21st minute before Vinícius Júnior equalized for Brazil in the 32nd, setting up a tense second half that ended with both sides sharing the spoils.wikipedia

Early Fireworks in Group C

Morocco came out aggressively, pressing Brazil from the opening whistle. Brahim Diaz threaded a pass to Saibari, who chipped the ball over goalkeeper Alisson to give Morocco a 1-0 lead. Brazil’s response came 11 minutes later when Bruno Guimarães set up Vinícius Júnior to level the score.foxsports

The first half was physical, with Casemiro and Roger Ibañez both receiving yellow cards for serious foul play, the latter forcing coach Carlo Ancelotti into a halftime substitution, bringing on Danilo. Morocco continued to create chances through captain Achraf Hakimi and Diaz, while Brazil struggled to regain control of possession.foxsports

Neymar’s Absence Looms Over Brazil

Brazil entered the tournament without Neymar, who suffered a grade two calf injury in late May. Ancelotti had confirmed before the tournament that Brazil’s record scorer would miss the opener but could return for the second group stage match. Without Neymar, Ancelotti started Igor Thiago as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Vinícius Júnior, Lucas Paquetá, and Raphinha supporting behind him.instagram

Both Keepers Tested Late

The second half saw both teams push for a winner. Alisson made a notable double save in stoppage time to preserve the draw for Brazil, while Morocco’s Yassine Bounou — known as Bono — held firm throughout against waves of Brazilian pressure. The 35-year-old Al Hilal goalkeeper, who was named CAF Goalkeeper of the Year in 2025, entered the tournament with a strong reputation built during Morocco’s historic run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals.wikipedia

Both teams now turn their attention to subsequent Group C fixtures, with Haiti and Scotland also vying for advancement from a group that promises further drama.wikipedia