Vinicius Jr. cancelled out Ismael Saibari’s opener as Brazil and Morocco settled for a 1-1 draw in one of the most anticipated group-stage matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Brazil and Morocco played out a 1-1 draw in a highly anticipated Group C encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in New Jersey on Saturday.
The match featured two spectacular first-half goals as both sides earned a point in one of the tournament’s early heavyweight contests.
Morocco struck first in the 21st minute through Ismael Saibari, who produced a stunning finish to give the Atlas Lions the lead after a strong opening spell.
Brazil responded 11 minutes later when Vinicius Jr. delivered an equally impressive goal, beating the Moroccan defence to level the score at 1-1 in the 32nd minute.
Morocco largely dictated the tempo during the first half and created several attacking opportunities, but Brazil gradually settled into the contest after finding the equaliser.
The second half was more cautious, with both teams focusing on maintaining possession and limiting defensive errors. Despite a few promising attacks at either end, neither side was able to find a winning goal.
The result extends Brazil’s unbeaten record in World Cup opening matches. The five-time champions entered the tournament having avoided defeat in their opening game since 1934, recording 17 wins in 20 openers.
Brazil arrived at the tournament seeking a sixth FIFA World Cup title and its first since lifting the trophy in 2002.
Morocco, meanwhile, continued to demonstrate the form that has made them one of the world’s top-ranked teams. The Atlas Lions made history four years ago by becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final and entered the tournament as reigning African champions.
The two sides are separated by just one place in the FIFA rankings, with Brazil ranked sixth and Morocco seventh.
In other World Cup action, Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 to register its first World Cup victory in 36 years, while Australia began its Group D campaign with a 2-0 win over Türkiye. The results leave Scotland atop Group C and Australia well placed in the race for a knockout-stage berth.
