Morocco and Brazil played to a draw on Saturday in New York in the first clash of Group C at the 2026 World Cup. The two teams finished with a 1-1 draw, with two goals scored in the first half by Ismaël Saibari and Vinicius Junior.
Morocco attacks without hesitation
Morocco started strongly, without waiting or being on the back foot. The Moroccan players pressed high, won several duels in midfield, and quickly attacked down the flanks. In the opening minutes, Neil El Aynaoui had a chance in the box after a move down the left, but his shot was blocked. Achraf Hakimi then threatened down his wing with a low, angled shot that flashed across the Brazilian goal but missed the target.
Saibari rewards the Moroccan highlight
Morocco's pressure finally paid off in the 21st minute. Ismaël Saibari capitalized on a loose ball behind the Brazilian defense, getting ahead of Alisson Becker. The Moroccan striker then chipped the goalkeeper with a precise lob, giving the Atlas Lions the lead. The goal rewarded Morocco's more aggressive and incisive start to the match.
Brazil responds with Vinicius
Brazil equalized eleven minutes later, almost against the run of play. Vinicius Junior took charge on the left wing, surged into the box, then cut back onto his right foot before unleashing a powerful shot. Yassine Bounou was unable to keep the ball out. At 1-1, the Seleção prevented Morocco from extending their lead before halftime.
Bounou prevents Brazil from tipping over
Before halftime, Lucas Paqueta produced one of Brazil's best plays of the match. The midfielder initiated the move with a skillful move past Hakimi, then finished it off with an acrobatic volley. Bounou stretched to tip it behind for a corner. At the break, the score was 1-1, with Morocco displaying a very convincing collective performance and Brazil leveling the score thanks to Vinicius' clinical finishing.
Ancelotti reacts at halftime
Carlo Ancelotti reacted immediately after the restart. Roger Ibañez and Casemiro, both booked in the first half, were replaced by Danilo and Fabinho. Brazil then took possession higher up the pitch and established more of the game in the Moroccan half. From a quick throw-in on the left, Igor Thiago found himself in a shooting position in the box, but Bounou saved his powerful effort.
Morocco bends, but does not break
The second half saw Brazil dominate possession, but Morocco defended with a deeper, more compact defensive block. Brazil finished with 54% possession, 6 corners, and 5 shots on target, compared to Morocco's 46% possession, 1 corner, and 2 shots on target. Despite this statistical advantage, the Seleção failed to score a second goal.
Raphinha and Danilo stumble on Bounou
Brazil had several dangerous opportunities late in the game. In the 78th minute, Vinicius Junior played in Raphinha, whose shot was saved by Bounou. The Moroccan goalkeeper was then injured after a challenge with Raphinha, but he continued playing. In stoppage time, Danilo had another chance during a Brazilian press, but he couldn't beat the Moroccan goalkeeper.
Morocco also had a last-minute scare
In the final minutes, the Atlas Lions looked to exploit the spaces left by Brazil. Soufiane Rahimi came on in the 89th minute, replacing Saibari, who had a great game and scored Morocco's goal. The ten minutes of added time kept the tension high until the very end, but the score remained unchanged.
A solid point for the Atlas Lions
Morocco leaves with a point. Brazil avoids defeat but drops two points in their opening match. In Group C, both teams start with a draw before the rest of the group stage, where they will have to confirm their form against Haiti and Scotland.
