The five-time world champion from Brazil lost points in the very first match at the World Cup. The Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team drew 1:1 in the opening match of Group C with the semi-finalists of the last championship from Morocco.
14.06.2026 02:06 , updated: 05:57
Photo: PIOTR KUCZA/FOTOPYK / Newspix.pl / Profimedia
The point for the five-time world champions from Brazil was arranged by Vinicius Jr (pictured with the author of the Moroccan strike Ismael Saibari) with an equalizing goal.
The Brazilians will play another duel on the night of Saturday, June 20 in Philadelphia (02:30 CEST) against the outsider from Haiti. Morocco will face Scotland in Foxborough on the same day at 00:00.
Real Madrid footballers became the key figures in the star-studded match on both sides. Moroccan Ismael Saibari opened the score of the match in the 21st minute after a perfect vertical pass from the White Ballet midfielder Brahim Diaz.
Eleven minutes later, even Diaz’s teammate from Madrid, Vinicius Jr., did not let himself be embarrassed.
WC in football – C-group:
Brazil – Morocco 1:1 (1:1)
Goals: 32. Vinicius – 21. Saibari. Referees: Vinčič – Klančnik, Kovačič (all Slovak), ŽK: Casemiro, Ibanez (both Brazilian), 80,663 spectators.
Brazil: Alisson – Ibanez (46. Danilo), Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos – Casemiro (46. Fabinho), Guimaraes (80. Danilo Santos) – Paqueta (61. Cunha), Raphinha, Vinicius – Thiago (61. Luiz Henrique)
Morocco: Bono – Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui (80. Salah-Eddine) – Bouaddi, El Aynaoui – Diaz (64. Talbi), Ounahi (64. El Mourabet), El Khannouss (80. Amaimouni) – Saibari (89. Rahimi)
The beginning of the match belonged to the Moroccans, who were more active. They did not allow the Brazilians to dictate the tempo of the game. The African representative was accurate in the interval and deservedly took the lead in the 21st minute. Diaz took care of an exact perpendicular to Saibari, who lobbed Alisson in the escape.
Both Raphinha and Vinicius were practically without the ball for the first half hour. However, the first chance to score in the tournament was enough for the Real Madrid winger.
He shot it after he easily got rid of the defending El Aynaoui in the penalty area and didn’t give Bono a chance with a sharp shot. At the end of the half, the Moroccan goalkeeper kept his team in check when he pushed Paquet’s spectacular finish into the corner.
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The “Canaries” started after the change of sides with two changes. Ancelotti withdrew from the game the duo of Ibanez and Casemiro, who were under the threat of expulsion.
In their place came the experienced pair of Danilo and Fabinho. However, the play lost the pace it had in the first act. The favorite of the duel looked sterile going forward and had a hard time pushing past his opponent.
Raphinha had a rare chance for Brazil in the 78th minute, but his shot after a return pass from Vinicius did not fit at all and was aimed only at Bono’s hands.
The Moroccan goalkeeper had no problem even finishing substitute Danilo Santos from the third minute of extra time. The Brazilians were still worried about the result at the end, when the goalkeeper Alisson had to save twice.
votes after the match /sources: fifa.com, FOX Sports, AP/
Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Brazil: “I think we didn’t start too well. I’m a bit worried. We lost a lot of tackles and lost control of the ball. We improved in the second half of this tough game. In the first we struggled to break away from the Moroccan pressure, we could have had more control of the game. I expected a better start, but things like that can happen. Now we’ll focus on the next game.”
Achraf Hakimi, captain of Morocco: “It was not an easy game. Brazil are among the favorites of the whole tournament. We drew but we are happy with the performance. We still have to improve every game and that is what we will focus on now. We have to keep positive and learn from the mistakes we made.”
Vinicius Junior, Brazil winger: “We started really bad. We definitely have to hold the ball better. We also have to move around the field a lot better.”
