Brazil held by Morocco as Group C opens with 1-1 draw
Vinicius Junior earned Brazil a point after Ismael Saibari put Morocco ahead, leaving Group C tightly placed after Scotland’s win.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Brazil opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco in New Jersey, a result that left Carlo Ancelotti’s team with early questions in Group C. Al Jazeera and AFP reported that Vinicius Junior’s first-half goal prevented defeat after Morocco had taken control through Ismael Saibari.
Saibari scored in the 21st minute at New York New Jersey Stadium, running through Brazil’s defense before finishing with a lifted effort, according to Al Jazeera. Brazil responded through Vinicius, who collected a pass from Bruno Guimaraes on the left side of the box, shifted onto his right foot and struck past Yassine Bounou.
Brazil’s opening display raises concerns
Al Jazeera reported that Brazil, seeking a sixth World Cup title and its first since 2002, looked unsettled in the early part of the match. Morocco’s pace and pressure caused problems for several Brazil players, and Casemiro was withdrawn at halftime after a difficult first half in hot conditions.
The performance followed a South American qualifying campaign in which Brazil finished fifth, a result Al Jazeera said had already shown the scale of Ancelotti’s task. The draw did little to quiet doubts about whether Brazil’s squad is ready to challenge late in the tournament.
Morocco builds on recent success
Morocco’s performance reinforced its status as a leading contender in Group C, according to Al Jazeera. The Atlas Lions, World Cup semifinalists in Qatar in 2022, played with confidence and created enough attacking threat to trouble Brazil throughout the match.
Al Jazeera reported that Morocco arrived in North America as African Cup of Nations champions after being retrospectively awarded the title following a controversial final defeat to Senegal. Against Brazil, the North African side showed signs that its 2022 run was followed by sustained progress rather than a single tournament surge.
Vinicius delivers for Brazil
Vinicius again showed why Brazil’s attack depends heavily on him, Al Jazeera reported. The Real Madrid forward entered the World Cup after scoring 16 goals in La Liga and five in the Champions League during the club season.
His equalizer came while Brazil was struggling to impose itself, and Al Jazeera described it as the kind of individual action he has produced regularly for Real Madrid. Brazil will need more of that output if it is to advance deep into the tournament.
Neymar remains a major subplot
Neymar did not play as he continues to recover from a calf injury, according to Al Jazeera. Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, now 34, has not appeared for the national team since 2023.
Al Jazeera reported that Neymar was recalled despite not being part of Ancelotti’s plans during the coach’s first year in charge. His fitness and form remain under scrutiny after repeated injury issues and a difficult return spell at Santos, and his timeline for a first-team return remains unclear.
Group C stays open
The draw left Group C finely placed, with Scotland top after beating Haiti 1-0 in Boston, according to Al Jazeera. Brazil and Morocco are still viewed as the leading teams in the group, but the dropped points give Scotland a stronger chance of reaching the knockout stage for the first time.
Al Jazeera reported that Morocco and Brazil remain favourites for the two automatic qualification places. Scotland, however, could move closer to the round of 32 by taking points from its remaining two group matches.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.